FR3028694A1 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING OR GUIDING A SWIMMER IN WATER - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system and method for assisting or guiding a swimmer in water. The system comprises a user device (2) comprising at least one sensor (21), user data transmitting means (23), and data receiving means (24). The system also comprises a device (3), which comprises means for receiving (31) the user data, storage means (34) able to store reference data, means (33) for processing and calculation configured. for comparing the user data with said reference data and for defining setpoint data, and means for transmitting (32) said setpoint data. The user device also comprises means for generating (25, 42) instruction signals to the swimmer, according to the setpoint data.

Description

Title: The present invention relates generally to communication with a swimmer in water. Water is a very good environment for the sporty exercise of a person. Indeed, this medium allows significant energy expenditure in a less traumatic approach to the muscles and the skeleton. Water facilitates the swimmer's movements while providing resistance that promotes work in power. The water surrounding the swimmer's body also dampens movement and reduces the risk of injury. However, the water forms an obstacle to the swimmer to see, hear and speak, which does not allow an outside person, for example his coach, to communicate with the swimmer reliably and quickly. The obstacle to the communication formed by the water is penalizing for the swimmer who wishes to improve his movements to optimize his sliding and propulsion. The swimmer's coach can communicate with the swimmer only when the swimmer has finished his movements, which reduces the effectiveness of the training. In addition, because of the barrier formed by the water, the coach does not necessarily see all the movements made by the swimmer and may well miss some movements to correct and / or give inappropriate instructions . The present invention aims to provide a new system and method for communicating in real time with a person in the water to analyze its movements and send him instructions adapted. To this end, the subject of the invention is a communication system for assisting or guiding a swimmer in the water, said communication system comprising: a device, called a user device, comprising: sensors intended to be positioned on the swimmer, - data transmission means, called user data, corresponding to the signals acquired by the sensors, and - data receiving means; a device, called a driving device, which comprises: reception means able to receive the user data transmitted by the transmission means of the user device; storage means capable of storing reference data, processing and calculation means, such as a microprocessor, configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define setpoint data according to of said comparison; transmission means capable of transmitting said setpoint data to the reception means of the user device; Means for generating instruction signals to the swimmer, as a function of the setpoint data received by said user device receiving means. Such a communication system allows a person, such as a trainer, to instantly communicate with another person in the water to analyze his movements and transmit appropriate instructions. The coaches can communicate with their swimmers in action during the training. In particular, the coaches can continuously stimulate the swimmer and give instructions for clearer exercises, especially when the complexity of the training increases. 3028694 3 The system provides the swimmer in motion with objective criteria for measuring his performance. The set data that the swimmer receives through the wireless link between the user module with which it is equipped and the remote trainer module, allows the swimmer 5 to benefit, while it is in motion, from a repository of best practices and / or ideal gestures. In particular, the sensors of the user device make it possible to determine the instantaneous speed of the swimmer and its variations. The swimmer can thus be guided effectively in real time to, for example, adapt his pace (tempo), and / or optimize the distance traveled by arm cycle. The system can be used as a custom real-time audio training solution. The trainer device may also include an online platform, for example formed by a server, configured to assist the swimmer to progress for different types of water exercises. The exchange of data between the training device and the user device makes it possible to improve the utility, the relevance of the exercises, the aesthetics, and the comfort of performing the exercises and of moving in the water by comparing the data. acquired with the sensors with reference data to transmit user-adapted setpoint data. Such a system also makes it possible, when it includes means for memorizing and processing the data acquired, to follow the evolution of the swimmer's performance. The system according to the invention is adapted to the swimmer because of the ease of use and implementation of the user device. The use of vibrator and / or sound wave generation through the bones promotes the ergonomics of the system and makes intuitive the corrections to be performed by the swimmer. The system according to the invention promotes the perceived aesthetic sound 3028694 4 by the swimmer in action. The user device's Bone Audio Generator allows you to create innovative augmented sound augmented worlds for a useful, stimulating and effective aquatic experience. The use of the system according to the invention leads to a better knowledge of the swimmer, which allows him to offer more accepted exercises. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said instruction signal generating means comprise a vibrator element connected to the reception means and able to emit vibrations, forming said instruction signals, as a function of the setpoint data received by said means for receiving the user device. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said instruction signal generation means comprise a transducer connected to the reception means and able to trigger audio signals, forming said instruction signals, as a function of the setpoint data received by said instruction signals. means for receiving the user device.

Advantageously, said audio signals are audio signals in bone resonance. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the transducer is equipped with attachment means to a swimmer's ear. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the reference data correspond to positions and / or movements of swimmer members considered optimal. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the setpoint data are calculated so as to indicate to the swimmer, the position and / or the movement to be corrected to reach a position and / or an optimal movement corresponding to the reference data.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said user data and the reference data comprise data of: - distance traveled, and / or 5 - position, and / or - instantaneous speed, and / or - pressure, and / or physiological data, such as heart rate and / or respiratory rate and / or frequency of cyclic motion. Said user data and reference data may also include other types of data. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the user device comprises means for processing and computing data, such as a microprocessor, interposed between the sensors and said transmitting means of the user device for processing the signals acquired by each sensor and convert them into user data adapted to be transmitted by said transmitting means of the user device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the user device comprises a clothing or dressing accessory, such as a bathing suit, and / or a belt, and / or a swimsuit and / or a bathing cap. , to which is fixed, removably or not, at least a portion of the sensors, and / or transmitting and receiving means and / or instruction signal generating means. The invention also relates to a user device for a communication system as described above, said user device comprising: sensors intended to be positioned on the swimmer, data transmission means, called user data, 3028694 6 corresponding to the signals acquired by said sensors, and said user device being able to communicate with a device, called a driver device, which comprises: reception means able to receive the user data transmitted by the user device transmission means ; storage means capable of storing reference data; processing and calculation means configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define setpoint data according to said comparison; means for transmitting the setpoint data; said user device also comprising: - means for receiving the setpoint data transmitted by said transmitting means of the driving device; means for generating instruction signals to the swimmer, as a function of the setpoint data received by said means for receiving the user device.

The invention also relates to a coaching device for a communication system as described above, said coaching device comprising: reception means able to receive the user data transmitted by the transmitting means of the user device; storage means capable of storing user data and reference data; processing and calculation means configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define setpoint data according to said comparison; Transmission means capable of transmitting said setpoint data to the reception means of the user device. The invention also relates to a communication method for assisting or guiding a swimmer in water, using a communication system as described above, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: acquisition of signals by the positioned sensors of the user device; Transmission by said transmitting means of the user device and reception by the user data driver device, corresponding to said signals acquired by the sensors; comparison by said comparison means of the driver device of the user data with reference data; Determination by said setpoint determination means according to the result of the comparison; transmission by the sending means of the setpoint data to the reception means of the user device; generating by said generating means at least one audio signal and / or at least one vibratory signal as a function of said setpoint data. The invention also relates to a communication method for assisting a swimmer with the aid of the trainer device as described above, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: reception by the training device of user data, corresponding the signals acquired by the sensors and transmitted by the transmission means of the user device; comparison by said comparison means of the driver device of the user data with reference data; - determination by said determination means of 3028694 8 setpoint data according to the result of the comparison; transmission by the transmission means of the setpoint data to the reception means of the user device. The invention also relates to a communication method for assisting a swimmer with the aid of the user device as described above, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps said communication system comprising: - acquisition of signals by the sensors of the user device; Transmission by said transmitting means of the user data user device, corresponding to said signals acquired by the sensors, to the receiving means of the driving device; reception by the reception means of the user device 15 of setpoint data transmitted by the transmitting means of the driving device; generating by said generating means of the user device at least one audio signal and / or at least one vibratory signal as a function of said setpoint data.

The invention also relates to a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions to carry out the steps of the method associated with the coaching device described above, when said program is executed by a processor of the coaching device. The invention also relates to a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions to implement the steps of the method associated with the user device described above when said program is executed by a processor of the user device. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a swimmer using the system according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing several steps of a communication method according to one embodiment of the invention implemented with the aid of a system according to the invention, for example that of the embodiment of FIG. With reference to the figures and as recalled above, the invention relates to a communication system for assisting or guiding a swimmer in the water. The swimmer can be a person or an animal. The communication system includes a device, called a user device. The user device includes at least sensors 21 intended to be positioned on the swimmer 1, preferably by means of a garment and / or accessory carrying the sensors. The sensors are distributed at different points of the swimmer's body. Each sensor communicates with data transmission means 23, called user data. Said user data corresponds to the signals acquired by the sensors 21. The device also comprises data receiving means 24 designed to receive data from the driver device described above. The system thus comprises a driver device 3 comprising reception means 31 able to receive the user data transmitted by the transmission means 23 of the user device 2, and storage means 34 able to store the user data received. and reference data. The reference data can be organized as a data library, for example, defined experimentally. The reference data correspond to positions and / or movements of limbs, considered optimal. Said user data and reference data comprise data of: distance traveled, and / or position, and / or instantaneous speed, and / or pressure, and / or physiological data, such as heart rate And / or the respiratory rate and / or the frequency of a cyclic movement, or other types of data. The comparison of the user data with the reference data makes it possible to instantly recognize the swimmer's essential movements, such as speed, direction, arm and breathing rate, and to correct them if necessary. The user device 2 comprises data processing and calculation means 22, such as a microprocessor, interposed between the sensors 21 and said transmitting means 23 of the user device 2 to process the signals acquired by each sensor 21 and the sensors 25. converting to user data adapted to be transmitted by said transmitting means 23 of the user device 2. The sensors are connected individually or collectively by a wireless link to the processing and computing means 22 which receive continuously, regularly or on request the information from the sensors. The sensors provide, for example, a pressure, a position, a speed, an acceleration without this list being limiting or that all these parameters are necessary simultaneously with the operation of the invention or that they are necessary for all the sensors.

The data transmitted by the sensors makes it possible to reconstruct other data such as the speed, the position, the pressure exerted on all or part of the swimmer's body which can be considered as user data comparable to reference data to generate data. setpoint data.

According to an embodiment not illustrated in the figures, said means for processing and computing data and / or transmission may be included at least partly in one or more of the sensors. The trainer device 3 also comprises processing and calculation means 33, such as a microprocessor, configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define setpoint data according to said comparison. The trainer device 3 also includes transmission means 32 capable of transmitting said setpoint data to the reception means 24, 41 of the user device 2 detailed below. The target data is calculated to indicate to the swimmer the position and / or movement to be corrected to achieve an optimal position and / or movement corresponding to the reference data. The instruction data may take into account profile data associated with the swimmer, such as the type of swims practiced by the swimmer. The user device 2 is equipped with generation means 25, 42 for instruction signals to the swimmer, as a function of the setpoint data received by said reception means 24, 41 of the user device 2.

Advantageously, said instruction signal generating means comprise a vibrating element 25 connected to the receiving means 24 and able to emit vibrations. Said vibrations form said instruction signals which are functions of the set-point data received by said reception means 24 of the user device 2. The vibrations can be encoded into impulse intelligible to the swimmer. Alternatively or in combination with the vibrating element, said instruction signal generating means comprises a transducer 42 connected to the receiving means 41 and adapted to trigger audio signals. Said audio signals form said instruction signals, according to the setpoint data received by said receiving means 41 of the user device 2. Advantageously, the transducer 42 is equipped with attachment means 15 to a swimmer's ear. According to a preferred embodiment, said audio signals are audio signals in bone resonance. Thus, the signals generated from the received setpoint data may be: a simple voice command which will be transmitted to transducers and heard by intracranial listening, sound pulses also heard by intracranial listening, vibratory pulses felt by a or several parts of the body simultaneously or not. The signals from the setpoint data may include a simple codification, for example for persons not accustomed to, or a more advanced codification for individuals educated to receive complex instructions. For example, the instruction given to a novice swimmer may be to speed up his kick rhythm with a simple code, while for a very competitive swimmer he may be asked to speed up the kick while placing his body so that it is more immersed, with a more complicated code. To be easily used by the swimmer, the user device 5 comprises a clothing or dressing accessory, such as a bathing suit, and / or a belt, and / or a swimsuit and / or a bathing cap, to which is fixed, removably or not, at least a portion of the sensors 21, and / or transmitting means 23 and receiving 24 and / or instruction signal generation means 25. The user device can thus form a communicating and sensitive combination or be formed of separate elements in the form of communicating and sensitive tissues for the wrists, legs, pelvis and shoulder.

The system thus immerses the swimmer in Augmented Reality Realms that stimulate and guide him in all types of exercise: speed / intensity, rhythms (arms and breaths), and search for support in the water. Depending on the movements of the swimmer, the trainer device 20 can guide the swimmer with a real-time audio accompaniment that is useful for its action. Advantageously, the system comprises means for generating a realistic avatar of the swimmer, preferably in 3D animation, based on the real data captured on the swimmer, which makes it possible to visualize gestures to be corrected and to implement best practices . In the case where the user device comprises elements independent of each other, said elements can be attached to the swimmer according to the learning needs, by elastic devices easy to position or slipped under clothes or accessories, such as a cap or headband for example, a belt, a swimsuit, while leaving the swimmer free of his movements. The system may include in the user device and / or the driver device filter means for selecting before or after transmission the user data from the sensors which are useful for generating the setpoint data. The system may also include priority setpoint determination means. For example, the system 10 can determine that when the breathing instruction is taken into account by the swimmer, the instruction of correction of the beat of the arms brings too much disturbance on the breathing. The system can then determine that the priority setpoint is arm flapping and then breathing.

The system described above makes it possible to implement a communication method to assist the swimmer. Figure 2 illustrates different steps of such a method. In step 200, the sensors 21 of the user device 2 acquire signals corresponding to data of the swimmer, called user data. The transmitting means 23 of the user device 2 transmit, at step 300, the user data acquired by the sensors 21, to the reception means 31 of the driver device 3. At step 400, the user data is compared with the data 25 reference. The comparison then makes it possible to determine, in step 500, setpoint data as a function of the result of the comparison. Then, in step 600, the transmission means 32 transmit the setpoint data to the reception means 24, 41 of the user device 2. The user device can then proceed to the step 700 at generation by said generation means 25, 42 of at least one audio signal and / or at least one vibratory signal as a function of said setpoint data to correct movements, gestures or other instructions to the swimmer.

The invention has a particularly advantageous application to sports competition, but can also be applied to other areas such as rehabilitation, fitness and health or even play. An advantageous variant of the invention is intended to 10 people, such as the disabled, helped in their mode of propulsion by one or more equipment. The system is configured to take into account the one or more equipment (s) to which it is connected, to develop instructions for the person. The person in the water can thus suitably use the propulsion equipment or devices for its movement in the water. The invention can also be applied to the field of first aid at sea to compensate for the loss of landmarks. Also some animals (fish or mammals) are capable of rudimentary learning and the invention can be used to guide them. Such a system makes it possible to communicate with an animal swimmer an animal to extract it from its isolation by immediately correcting its errors by a continuous comparison between the gestures actually made and the repository of ideal gestures.

Those skilled in the art readily understand that the various steps and functions of the above embodiments can be performed as computer programs. In particular, the steps described above can be carried out in the form of electronic and / or computer instructions executable by the processors of the user and / or trainer devices of the system.

Although at least one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it should be noted that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives occur to those skilled in the art and may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. the scope of the object described here.

The present application contemplates covering all the adaptations and variations of the embodiments described above. Moreover, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and the word "one" does not exclude the plural. In addition, features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments set forth above may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments set forth above. It will be appreciated that the scope of the patent should include all the modifications contemplated above insofar as they form part of the inventors' contribution to the prior art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims (17)

REVENDICATIONS1. A communication system for assisting or guiding a swimmer (1) in the water, said communication system (1) comprising: - a device (2), called a user device, comprising: - sensors (21) for to be positioned on the swimmer (1), - data transmission means (23), called user data, corresponding to the signals acquired by the sensors (21), and data receiving means (24); a device (3), called a driving device, which comprises: reception means (31) able to receive the user data transmitted by the transmission means (23) of the user device (2); storage means (34) able to store reference data; processing and calculation means (33), such as a microprocessor, configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define Setpoint data according to said comparison; transmission means (32) able to transmit said setpoint data to the reception means (24, 41) of the user device (2); generation means (25, 42) of instruction signals to the swimmer, as a function of the setpoint data received by said receiving means (24, 41) of the user device (2). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for generating (25, 42) instruction signals 3028694 18 comprise a vibrator element (25) connected to the receiving means (24) and able to emit vibrations, forming said instruction signals, according to the setpoint data received by said receiving means (24) of the user device (2). 5 3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for generating (25, 42) instruction signals comprise a transducer (42) connected to the receiving means (41) and able to trigger audio signals , forming said instruction signals, according to the setpoint data received by said receiving means (41) of the user device (2). 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that said audio signals are audio signals in bone resonance. 5. System according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the transducer (42) is equipped with attachment means to a swimmer's ear. 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference data correspond to positions and / or movements of members of the swimmer, considered optimal. 7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the setpoint data are calculated to indicate to the swimmer, the position and / or movement to be corrected to achieve an optimal position and / or movement corresponding to the reference data. 8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said user data and the reference data comprise data of: - distance traveled, and / or 30 - position, and / or - instantaneous speed, and / or 3028694 - pressure, and / or - physiological data, such as heart rate and / or respiratory rate and / or the frequency of a cyclic movement. 5 9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user device (2) comprises means for processing and computing (22) data, such as a microprocessor, interposed between the sensors (21) and said transmission means (23) of the user device (2) for processing the signals acquired by each sensor (21) and converting them into user data adapted to be transmitted by said transmitting means (23) of the user device (2) . 10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user device comprises a clothing or dressing accessory, such as a bathing suit, and / or a belt, and / or a swimsuit and or a bathing cap, to which at least a portion of the sensors (21), and / or transmitting (23) and receiving (24) means and / or generating (25) instruction signals. 11. User device (2) for a communication system according to one of the preceding claims, said user device (1) comprising: - sensor (s) (21) intended to be positioned (s) on the swimmer, means (23) for transmitting data, called user data, corresponding to the signals acquired by said sensors, and said user device (2) being able to communicate with a device (3), called a training device (3) which comprises: reception means (31) able to receive the user data transmitted by the transmission means (23) of the user device (2); Storage means (34) capable of storing reference data; processing and calculation means (33) configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define reference data in accordance with the reference data; function of said comparison; means for sending (32) the setpoint data; said user device (2) also comprising: - means (24, 41) for receiving the setpoint data transmitted by said transmitting means (32) of the driving device (3) - generating means (25, 42) instruction signals to the swimmer, based on the setpoint data received by said receiving means (24, 4) of the user device (2). 15 12. Drive device (3) for a communication system according to one of claims 1 to 10, said driver device (3) comprising: - receiving means (31) adapted to receive the user data transmitted by the means d transmitting (23) the user device (2); storage means (34) able to store user data and reference data; processing and computing means (33) configured to compare the received user data with said reference data and to define setpoint data according to said comparison; - Transmitting means (32) capable of transmitting said setpoint data to the receiving means (24, 41) of the user device (2). 13. A communication method for assisting or guiding a swimmer (1) in water with the aid of a communication system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said method comprises the steps following: - acquisition (200) of signals by the sensor (s) (21) positioned (s) of the user device (2); Transmitting (300) by said transmitting means (23) of the user device (2) and receiving by the driver device (3) user data, corresponding to said signals acquired by the sensors (21); comparison (400) by said comparison means (31) of the driver device (3) of the user data with reference data; - determining (500) by said setpoint determination means (33) according to the result of the comparison; transmission (600) by the transmission means (32) of the setpoint data to the reception means (24, 41) of the user device (2); - Generation (700) by said generating means (25, 42) of at least one audio signal and / or at least one vibratory signal according to said setpoint data. 20 14. A method of communication for assisting a swimmer (1) with the aid of the training device (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - reception (300) by the training device (3) user data, corresponding to the signals acquired by the sensors (21) and transmitted by the transmitting means (23) of the user device (2); - comparison (400) by said comparison means (31) of the driver device (3) of the user data with reference data; - determining (500) by said determination means (33) 30 setpoint data according to the result of the comparison; transmission (600) by the transmitting means (32) of the reference data to the reception means (24, 41) of the user device (2). 15. A communication method for assisting a swimmer (1) with the user device (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: acquisition (200) of signals by the sensors ( s) (21) of the user device (2); transmission (300) by said transmitting means (23) of the user data user device (2), corresponding to said signals acquired by the sensors (21), to the receiving means (31) of the driving device (3); - receiving (600) by the receiving means (24, 41) of the user device (2) set data transmitted by the transmitting means (32) of the driving device (3); - Generation (700) by said generating means (25, 42) of the user device (2) of at least one audio signal and / or at least one vibratory signal according to said setpoint data. 16. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable and / or executable medium by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the steps of the method of claim 14, when said program is executed by a processor of the training device (3). 25 17. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions to implement the process steps according to claim 15, when said program is executed by a processor of the user device (2).