JP2004053595A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the convenience of a user in an exercise amount estimating system such as a walking meter using a positioning means such as a GPS. <P>SOLUTION: Based on a GPS signal received by a GPS receiver 14, a current position of the user is acquired. The current position of the user is verified against an action pattern map, and it is determined whether the current position is within an exercise area or a non-exercise area. When it is within an exercise area, the exercise amount (a moving distance, calorie consumption, or the like) is calculated based on a moving speed or the like. A calculation is displayed and outputted by a display unit 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game system, and more particularly to a technique for estimating a user's momentum using positioning means such as GPS.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-241193 discloses a pedometer that calculates the walking distance and calorie consumption of a wearer using GPS (Global Positioning System). This pedometer includes a GPS unit that receives a GPS signal and a direction sensor that detects a walking direction. A route connecting points where the walking direction has changed is set as a walking route, and the distance is calculated as a walking distance of the user. By doing so, compared with the conventional pedometer, the walking distance and calorie consumption with high accuracy are calculated.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above pedometer, since the walking distance cannot be calculated unless the start and end of the measurement of the walking distance are instructed by button operation, the user must operate the button before and after walking, which is easy to use. There is a problem of being bad.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to estimate the user's behavior and calculate the user's exercise amount according to the behavior, thereby improving the convenience for the user. It is to provide a game system using a simple momentum estimation system.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a momentum estimation system according to the present invention includes a current position acquisition unit that acquires a current position of a user, and an action estimation that estimates the user's action based on the acquired current position of the user. Means, and an exercise amount calculating means for calculating the user's exercise amount according to the estimated user's behavior. A program according to the present invention is for causing a computer to function as each of the above means.
[0006]
According to the present invention, an action of the user is estimated based on the current position of the user. For example, if the user is moving on a highway or a railway, the user is estimated to be moving by car or train, and if the user is moving elsewhere, the user is walking Presumed. Then, the amount of exercise is calculated according to the user's action. For example, only when it is estimated that the person is walking, the amount of exercise may be calculated. When the person is estimated to be moving using a transportation system such as an automobile, It may be estimated that there is a certain amount of energy consumption, and the amount of exercise for that is calculated. The amount of exercise is calculated, for example, in the form of energy consumption, moving distance, moving time, number of steps (in the case of walking), and the like. Thus, convenience for the user can be improved.
[0007]
In one aspect of the present invention, the behavior estimation unit stores a behavior type map storage that stores a behavior type map in which a geographical position or a geographical range is associated with a behavior type in the geographical position or the geographical range. Means for estimating the user's behavior based on the acquired current position of the user and the behavior type map. The behavior type is, for example, information for distinguishing between exercise and non-exercise. In this way, the user's behavior can be estimated relatively easily.
[0008]
In one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a movement speed acquisition unit that acquires the movement speed of the user, and the behavior estimation unit further estimates the user's action based on the acquired movement speed of the user. To do. In this way, it is possible to estimate whether the user's movement is due to transportation, bicycle, or walking, and the user's behavior can be estimated more accurately.
[0009]
In one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a movement speed acquisition unit that acquires the movement speed of the user, and the exercise amount calculation unit further calculates the exercise amount of the user based on the acquired movement speed of the user. To do. In this way, a more probable amount of exercise can be calculated.
[0010]
Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes an altitude difference acquisition unit that acquires an altitude difference of the user's movement route, and the exercise amount calculation unit is further based on the acquired height difference of the user's movement route The amount of exercise of the user is calculated. In this way, a more probable estimated energy amount can be calculated.
[0011]
Furthermore, a game system according to the present invention is configured to include the above-described momentum estimation system, and a game character changing unit that changes a game character in a game space using the calculated momentum of the user as at least one change parameter. It is characterized by including.
[0012]
According to the present invention, it becomes possible to relate a user's momentum and changes such as the growth of a game character. Thereby, for example, the greater the amount of exercise of the user, the more possible the game effects such as the game character growing faster in the game space, and the user can use the exercise amount estimation system while enjoying the development of the game character.
[0013]
Further, another game system of the present invention is configured to include the above-described exercise amount estimation system, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the superiority or inferiority of the calculated user's exercise amount, and a notification unit that notifies the user of the evaluation result. , Including.
[0014]
According to the present invention, for example, the higher the amount of exercise of the user, the higher the game score can be given. For this reason, the user can use the momentum estimation system while enjoying the development of the game character.
[0015]
In one aspect of the present invention, the evaluation means evaluates the superiority or inferiority based on the exercise amount of other users. In this way, for example, the amount of movement of another user in a predetermined period is compared with the total amount of exercise of the user in the same period, and the comparison result is notified to the user as the superiority or inferiority, thereby competing for the amount of exercise between the users. be able to.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a momentum estimation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the momentum estimation system 10 includes a GPS receiving unit 14 having a GPS antenna 12, a control unit 16, a display unit 18, and an operation unit 20. The GPS receiving unit 14 acquires current position information from a GPS signal received from a GPS satellite and passes it to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 controls each part of the apparatus according to control software (program), and is configured by a known microcomputer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) and the like. ing. The display unit 18 includes, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or the like, and displays a momentum estimation result based on display data supplied from the control unit 16 or a game screen that progresses according to the amount of exercise. Or to display. The operation unit 20 includes a round button and a cross button so that the user can enjoy the game and input basic information for calculating the amount of exercise such as weight, sex, presence / absence of luggage, weight of luggage, etc. It is used to do.
[0018]
The above configuration is accommodated in a housing and is carried by the user. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the momentum estimation system 10. As shown in the figure, each component of the momentum estimation system 10 is housed in a housing 22, a display unit 18 and an operation unit 20 are disposed on the front surface, and a user's waist belt is disposed on the back surface (not shown). For example, a clip is provided.
[0019]
Unlike the conventional general pedometer (registered trademark), the momentum estimation system 10 having the above configuration is based on the current position of the user acquired by the GPS receiver 14 as basic information, and the distance traveled and the time traveled (whatever on foot Minutes, jogging minutes, bicycle minutes, etc.), the number of steps, energy consumption, etc. are calculated. For this purpose, a behavior type map is stored in the ROM included in the control unit 16. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of such a behavior type map. As shown in the figure, in the behavior type map, the user's behavior range is divided into an exercise area 26 and a non-exercise area 24. In addition, the exercise area 26 or the non-exercise area 24 is stored in advance in a ROM included in the control unit 16 in association with the geographical range. Then, when the current position information is acquired from the GPS receiving unit 14, the control unit 16 determines whether the current position is in the exercise area 26 or the non-exercise area 24. The amount of exercise is calculated according to the determination result. Here, the non-exercise area 24 is an area where, for example, an expressway or a railroad track is laid. The exercise area 26 is an area other than that. Here, the action range of the user is divided into the exercise area 26 and the non-exercise area 24 in the action type map, but more detailed area classification (for example, a promenade area, a mountain climbing area, a jogging area, a swimming area, etc.) ) May be performed.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the momentum estimation process using such a behavior type map. The processing shown in the figure is periodically executed by the control unit 16 according to control software stored in a ROM included in the control unit 16. As shown in the figure, in this process, first, the control unit 16 acquires current position information output from the GPS receiving unit 14 (S101). Then, based on the current position information acquired last time and the current position information acquired this time, the moving speed is calculated (S102). The current position and moving speed obtained in S101 and S102 are stored in the RAM included in the control unit 16 as position and speed history data (S103). Next, the control unit 16 checks the current position on the behavior type map to check whether the current position is in the exercise area 26 or the non-exercise area 24 (S104). And when it exists in the non-exercise area 24, a momentum estimation process is complete | finished. On the other hand, if the user is within the exercise area 26, the user's exercise amount is calculated (S105), and the exercise amount estimation process ends.
[0021]
The amount of exercise in S105 may be calculated as follows, for example. That is, first, based on the position and speed history data stored in the ROM, whether the user is walking, jogging (running), moving by bicycle, or moving by transportation, that is, movement Determine the means. For example, a general speed range for walking, jogging, and bicycle is set in advance, and by checking which speed range the user's moving speed belongs, whether the user is walking, jogging, What is necessary is just to judge whether it is moving. Further, if the vehicle is moving at a predetermined speed (for example, several tens of km / h) or more continuously for a certain time, it may be determined that the vehicle is moving by transportation. Further, when the user's specific action mode cannot be determined based on the position and speed history data, an alarm (in this case, sounding means is connected to the control unit 16) is output, and the operation unit is displayed to the user. A specific action mode may be input from 20. In addition, when the specific action mode of the user estimated in the step (S105) changes, the sounding means or the like is notified to that effect, and the user is asked to confirm the estimated action mode. If there is, the actual action mode may be input by the operation unit 20.
[0022]
When the specific behavior mode (exercise mode) of the user is determined, the amount of exercise is calculated according to the behavior. For example, the basic energy consumption for each action (exercise) is read from a table (prepared in advance), and the value is multiplied by coefficients such as gender, weight, weight of baggage, moving speed, moving altitude difference, etc. What is necessary is just to calculate quantity. Values set by the user in advance using the operation unit 20 are used for the gender, weight, and weight of luggage. Further, the value calculated in S102 is used as the moving speed. Further, the moving height difference is calculated based on the current position information acquired in S101. The energy consumption may be calculated by multiplying by a coefficient depending on temperature, humidity, and the like. In any case, it is more probable if energy consumption is calculated in consideration of various parameters such as gender, weight, weight of luggage, moving speed, moving altitude difference, temperature, humidity in addition to user behavior. An estimated energy consumption can be calculated.
[0023]
When the user's energy consumption amount is calculated as described above, the value is stored in the RAM included in the control unit 16 to calculate the accumulated energy consumption amount for a certain period, for example, the accumulated energy consumption amount for the day. Used. Further, the momentum estimation system 10 can execute a character training game, and determines the degree of growth of game characters to be trained in the game space based on the calculated accumulated energy consumption. For this reason, the user can perform an exercise such as walking while watching the game character being raised displayed on the display unit 18 and having fun.
[0024]
As described above, according to the momentum estimation system 10, it is first determined whether or not the user is exercising by checking whether the current position is within the exercise area 26 or the non-exercise area 24 using the behavior type map. Next, the moving means is determined based on the moving speed of the user, and then it is secondarily estimated which type of exercise is or is not exercised. In this way, a more reliable user behavior is estimated. Then, the amount of exercise is calculated according to the estimated user behavior. As a result, the amount of exercise such as energy consumption can be calculated according to the action without instructing the start and end of measurement before and after walking, and the convenience for the user can be improved.
[0025]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
[0026]
For example, in the above description, the momentum estimation system 10 is realized using the dedicated housing 22, but the ROM (information storage medium) that records the control software and the action type map, the GPS antenna 12, and the GPS reception The game cartridge including the unit 14 may be mounted on a known portable game machine to realize the momentum estimation system.
[0027]
Further, in the above description, all of the momentum estimation processing is completed inside the housing 22, but a part (for example, on the Internet) may be assigned to an external server. For example, a communication means such as a mobile phone may be connected to the control unit 16 so that the current position is transmitted from the control unit 16 to an external server, and an instantaneous or cumulative amount of exercise is inquired. That is, the processes of S102 to S105 may be executed on the external server. At this time, the amount of exercise calculated by a large number of exercise quantity estimation systems 10 is managed by an external server, and a ranking of the exercise quantity per certain period, for example, one week is generated and distributed to each exercise quantity estimation system 10. Good. In this way, the user can compete for the amount of exercise. Moreover, you may make it elect a specific opponent and compete for exercise amount among those persons.
[0028]
In the above description, the movement speed is calculated based on the current position information output from the GPS receiver 14. However, a movement speed measuring unit such as an acceleration sensor is separately connected to the controller 16. In this way, the moving speed output from the means may be used as basic information for calculating the momentum. Further, the user's vertical vibration may be detected by an acceleration sensor, thereby counting the number of steps of the user and using it as basic information for calculating the amount of exercise. In a place where a GPS signal cannot be received (such as underground), the number of steps of the user counted based on the output of the acceleration sensor may be used as main basic information for calculating the amount of exercise of the user.
[0029]
In the above description, the current position (of the housing 22) of the user is acquired using GPS. However, a current position acquisition function such as PHS may be used.
[0030]
Furthermore, in the above description, the estimated amount of exercise is calculated for each type of behavior such as walking, jogging, and bicycle movement. However, only when it is estimated that the person is walking, the estimated number of steps, the estimated walking distance, or the estimated energy is calculated. An estimated amount of exercise (amount of walking) such as consumption may be calculated and output.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the user's behavior is estimated based on the current position of the user, and the user's exercise amount is calculated according to the user's behavior, so that the user's convenience is improved. Can be made.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a momentum estimation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a case of the momentum estimation system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a behavior type map.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exercise amount estimation process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Momentum amount estimation system, 12 GPS antenna, 14 GPS receiving part, 16 control part, 18 display part, 20 operation part, 22 housing | casing, 24 non-exercise area, 26 exercise area.

Claims (6)

Action type map storage means for storing an action type map in which a geographical position or geographical range and an action type in the geographical position or geographical range are associated with each other;
Current position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user;
A behavior estimation means for estimating the user's behavior by checking the acquired current position of the user against the behavior type map;
The amount of basic energy for the estimated user's behavior is read from a table prepared in advance, and the amount of exercise calculating means for calculating the amount of exercise of the user based on the value;
Game character changing means for changing the game character in the game space, using the calculated momentum of the user as at least one change parameter;
A game system comprising: Action type map storage means for storing an action type map in which a geographical position or geographical range and an action type in the geographical position or geographical range are associated with each other;
Current position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user;
A behavior estimation means for estimating the user's behavior by checking the acquired current position of the user against the behavior type map;
The amount of basic energy for the estimated user's behavior is read from a table prepared in advance, and the amount of exercise calculating means for calculating the amount of exercise of the user based on the value;
An evaluation means for evaluating superiority or inferiority of the calculated amount of exercise of the user;
Informing means for informing the user of the evaluation result;
A game system comprising: The game system according to claim 2,
The evaluation means evaluates the superiority or inferiority based on the amount of exercise of another user. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
It further includes moving speed acquisition means for acquiring the moving speed of the user,
The behavior estimating means further estimates the user's behavior based on the acquired moving speed of the user.
A game system characterized by that. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
It further includes moving speed acquisition means for acquiring the moving speed of the user,
The exercise amount calculation means further calculates the user's exercise amount based on the acquired moving speed of the user.
A game system characterized by that. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Further comprising an altitude difference acquisition means for acquiring an altitude difference of the user's travel route;
The exercise amount calculating means further calculates the user's exercise amount based on the acquired height difference of the user's movement path.
A game system characterized by that.

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