KR20090003091A - System and method for motivating exercise using a instant-message - Google Patents

Abstract

A physical activity motivation system and method using an instant message are provided to share physical activity information and health information with other people to induce competitiveness and motivate physical activity. A physical activity motivation system using an instant message includes an information receiver(410) for receiving physical activity information of a user, a database(440) storing the physical activity information, and an instant messaging controller(420) for updating the database by using information received by the information receiver, searching the database for the physical activity information of the user and transmitting the physical activity information in the form of an instant message to a user terminal.

Description

Physical activity motivation system and method using instant message {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOTIVATING EXERCISE USING A INSTANT-MESSAGE}

The present invention relates to a method of motivating physical activity using an instant messaging service, and in particular, by using an instant messaging system to share physical activity information and health behavior information with others in real time and induces competition for motivation for physical activity. A physical activity motivation system and method using instant messages that can be facilitated.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT new growth engine core technology development project of the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications Research and Development. [Task management number: 2005-S-069-02 Task name: Biological information processing based wearable system technology Development of Wearable System Using Physiological Signal Processing].

Regular physical activity is a very important factor in maintaining an individual's health, including disease prevention, weight management, and stress management. However, the amount of physical activity often falls short of the level of need due to the increase in the sedentary lifestyle of sitting at the desk, studying, and performing work, and the pattern of life seeking convenience. Accordingly, the importance of physical activity is gradually increasing, and the technology for helping it is gradually developing.

The most popular technique is the pedometer, which has been used to measure walking, the basic physical activity, for 40 years since it was commercialized in Japan in the 1960s. Recently, with the development of IT technology and sensor technology, devices that measure physical activity more accurately are introduced.

For example, BodyMedia's BodyBugg Armband was able to record vital signals and physical activity continuously using an accelerometer, ECG, GSR and thermometer. Polar introduces a range of physical activity measurement products, including chestbands, watches, and clothing. However, to date, commercialized products simply measure and visually express physical activity.

The most important factor in maintaining and promoting physical activity is to induce the user to continue long-term participation. In other words, it motivates the user to elicit voluntary behavior and to continue physical activity.

However, different people have different views of the subject and how they are motivated. In other words, since motivation varies from person to person, in order to motivate properly, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of each individual and provide a suitable method.

However, when social networks are used to derive motivational factors such as competition, cooperation, and reward systems, motivation is generally high. For example, as shown by Cyworld and MySpace's success stories, interactions between people through online social networks provide a new form of motivation. However, even though there are ways to motivate people through interaction, they have not yet used social networks to induce regular physical activity.

In order to solve the above problems, there is a need for a means of motivating physical activity by inducing competition by sharing physical activity information and health behavior information with others using an instant messaging system.

In order to realize the above means, the instant messaging server of the present invention is a physical activity motivation system using an instant message,

Information receiving unit for receiving the user-specific physical activity information or bio-related information collected from at least one sensor device, a database for storing the received user-specific physical activity information or bio-related information, information received by the information receiving unit An instant messaging controller for updating the database by using the user terminal and searching for health related information including physical activity information or biometric information of a user logged in through the user terminal from the database and delivering the instant message to the user terminal in the form of an instant message; It is configured to include.

At this time, the physical activity information or bio-related information is

At least one of physical activity performance information, smoking amount information, blood sugar information, weight and body fat information, and blood pressure information.

Meanwhile, the instant messaging server of the present invention

In a physical activity motivation system using an instant message, an information receiver for receiving user's physical activity information or biometric information collected from sensor devices provided for each user, and receiving the received user's physical activity information or biometric information A database stored for each user, a group manager for determining each user level belonging to a preset group using information stored for each user in the database, the database and the group using information received by the information receiver The management unit is updated, and instant messages include health-related information including physical activity information or biometric information of the user logged in through the user terminal, health-related information of other users in the group to which the user belongs, and the level determined by the group manager. State is configured to include an instant messaging controller for transfer to the user terminal.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the physical activity motivation method using the instant message of the present invention

Receiving physical activity information or biometric information collected from a sensor device, storing the received physical activity information or biometric information in a database, checking whether a user terminal is logged in, or logging in to a logged in user terminal And transmitting physical activity information or biometric information of the user stored in the database to the user terminal in an instant message form.

In addition, the physical activity motivation method using an instant message according to the present invention

Receiving physical activity information or biometric information measured from a sensor device provided for each user, storing and updating the received physical activity information or biometric information for each user in a database, and storing the user in the database Calculating the level of each user in a preset group by analyzing and comparing the physical activity information or the bio-related information for each user, checking the logged-in user terminal, and confirming the physical activity information or the biometrics of the user as the logged-in user terminal as a result of the checking. And transmitting the related information and the level information of the user in the group to the user terminal in the form of an instant message.

In this case, the method for motivating physical activity using an instant message may further include transmitting physical activity information or biometric information of another user in the group to the user terminal in an instant message form.

As described above, the physical activity motivation system and method using instant messages according to the present invention share physical activity information and biometric information with other people to motivate users for physical activity and at the same time in daily life. It has the effect of being interested in health.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a physical activity motivation system using an instant message according to the present invention.

The physical activity motivation system (hereinafter, referred to as "synchronization system") using instant messages according to the present invention includes a sensor device 100, a user terminal 200, an instant messaging server 400, and wired / wirelessly. It consists of a network or mobile communication network 300 to enable communication by.

The synchronization system according to the present invention has a client-server structure in which a user connects to a server through a network or a mobile communication network using the sensor device 100 and the user terminal 200.

The present invention also runs a messenger program to use instant messages. In a typical messenger program, the server operates in a standby state where a user can connect, and when a user connects, a server creates a new socket and starts transmitting a message between the server and the client.

However, in the synchronization system according to the present invention, among the sensor device 100 and the user terminal 200 configured as clients, the sensor device 100 is always connected to the instant messaging server 400 in real time or at regular intervals. The measured physical activity information or biometric information is transmitted to the instant messaging server 400. In addition, the instant messaging server 400 stores the latest physical activity information or biometric information transmitted from the sensor device 100, and when a user logs in using the user terminal 200, information of a logged-in user or other users is displayed. Deliver as an instant message to the terminal.

The sensor device 100 obtains the user's physical activity information or biometric information using the sensor device, and continuously transmits the obtained information to the instant messaging server 400 in real time or at regular intervals. In describing the present invention, physical activity information or biometric information indicates health related information of a user measured using various sensor devices.

For example, physical activity information such as the number of walkings obtained using a pedometer, physical activity information such as the number of exercise when athletes perform push-ups, as well as acceleration sensor, GSR, EMG, etc. Physical activity information acquired using sensors. Another example is physical activity information obtained by counting the number of times a user presses a specific button of the sensor device whenever the user smokes or by attaching an olfactory sensor such as an electronic nose to the portable device to automatically count when smoking. .

The biometric information is obtained by using a sensor device for measuring biosignal information such as a user's Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Fat, Heart Beat, and the like. Since the sensor device for measuring biometric information uses an already disclosed technique, the description thereof is omitted.

However, the sensor device 100 is provided with a communication means to deliver biometric information to the instant messaging server 400 continuously in real time or at regular intervals.

The sensor device 100 is attached to a part of a user's body or measures the body of the user at regular intervals while being carried by the user, and transmits the information to the instant messaging server 400.

The user terminal 200 receives and outputs health related information from the instant messaging server 400 in an instant message form. That is, the user may check his / her current physical activity information and biometric information using the user terminal 200. In addition, to share information for motivation, the user may receive current physical activity information and biometric information of another user in a group to which the user belongs from the instant messaging server 400.

When the user terminal 200 stores a messenger program and the user logs in to the instant messaging server 400, the user instant messaging server 400 displays user's physical activity information and biometric information. To pass on.

The physical activity information includes the physical activity performance information of the past week or the past month as well as the current physical activity performance result of the user. Past physical activity performance information can be displayed in graphs or charts for easy viewing.

In addition, the user's level (or ranking) in the group that the user is sharing to share the physical activity information and the like for motivation can be displayed to induce the user's motivation. That is, after checking the user's level with the result of his current physical activity information, the user becomes curious about the physical activity information of another person, and can select and confirm the information of other users belonging to the group.

The user terminal 200 may log in to the instant messaging server 400 by a user directly accessing the instant messaging server 400 using the user terminal 200 and logging in, or the user terminal 200 by the user. ) Is automatically connected to the instant messaging server 400 by the built-in messenger program and the login is performed. In the latter case, when the user uses the user terminal 200, there is an advantage that the user may always be interested in his or her physical activity and biometric information.

The user terminal 200 may be variously applied when it is possible to perform communication by network or mobile communication, including a PDA, a computer, and the like. In addition, the user terminal 200 and the sensor device 100 may be integrally configured. That is, the sensor device 100 is provided in the user terminal 200 to transmit the user's physical activity information or biometric information to the instant messaging server 400, and receives a health related instant message and outputs it to the user.

The instant messaging server 400 manages personal information of users and health related information for each user. In addition, health-related information is shared to manage groups for motivation. That is, the health-related information for each user is compared and scored, and a level is set. A detailed description thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a view showing the configuration of a physical activity motivation system using an instant message according to the present invention.

The synchronization system is connected to the instant messaging server 400, the plurality of sensor devices 110-150, and the plurality of user terminals 210-250 using a network or mobile communication capable of performing communication. One user has both a sensor device and a user terminal. For example, user A has both sensor device A and user terminal A. Here, the sensor device A refers to a set of sensor devices necessary to obtain physical activity information or biometric information. Accordingly, the user A may attach the sensor device A 110 to a part of the body or the user terminal to transmit physical activity information or biometric information to the instant messaging server 400 in real time or at regular intervals, and transmit the user terminal A 210 to the instant messaging server 400. Through receiving physical activity information or bio-related information of one's or another person, it is possible to check his or her level in the group to which he belongs.

In the same manner, the user B, the user C, and the like transmit the physical activity information and the biometric information to the instant messaging server 400 using the sensor devices B, C 120 and 130, and the user B, C, etc. You can confirm this desired information.

As such, the instant messaging server 400 receives physical activity information and biometric information for each user from a plurality of sensor devices, manages information for each user and for each group, and provides the user with a user terminal carried by each user. Deliver the information you want.

The instant messaging server 400 may include an information collector 410 for receiving physical activity information and biometric information for each user from a plurality of sensor devices 110, a database 440 for storing the collected information, and information for each group. It includes a group management unit 430 for managing and the instant messaging control unit 420 for storing and managing the collected information to deliver the information required for the user terminal in the form of instant messaging.

First, the information collection unit 410 receives physical activity information or biometric information transmitted from a sensor device provided for each user in real time or at regular intervals. Each sensor device transmits the user's physical activity information or biometric information measured in its own communication means in real time, or when the sensor device is integrally mounted on the user terminal, the physical activity information, etc. It is delivered to the information collecting unit 410.

The database 440 stores user's physical activity information or biometric information for each user. For example, when user A smokes, the smoking amount is continuously stored, and bio-related information such as blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate is continuously stored. Similarly, it stores physical activity information and biometric information about other users such as users B and C.

The group manager 430 manages users formed as a group as a group. Check the level or ranking in the group of users formed as a group by using the information of the database 440 stored for each user, and continuously search for the user closest to the target value targeted by each user. Manage your information. The group is preset by the users. Users can join groups that are preset by the instant messaging server 400, as well as create new groups of their own. In addition, a user may designate a user who designates a user with whom he / she wants to share information, and share information with each other according to the user's consent.

E.g. Users who want to quit can motivate quitting by forming a group with other people who want to quit smoking and comparing their and other people's smoking, while those on a diet compare their current weight or weight loss over a period of time. You can be motivated to diet.

The instant messaging control unit 420 stores the physical activity information or the biometric information of the users received by the information collecting unit 410 in the database 440 and checks the user's login status to log in the user's physical activity. Information or biometric information, physical activity information of another user in the group to which the user belongs, and the level in the group are delivered to the user terminal in an instant message form.

The instant message type refers to a type of delivering information in real time when the user terminal is logged in. For example, when a user terminal is logged in, a specific icon is formed on a part of the screen, and when the user selects the icon, the user's current or past physical activity information or biometric information and ranking information of group members are provided. . The provided information is delivered to the user terminal in real time when the information of the instant messaging server 400 is changed. As another example, when a user who is a member of the group logs in, a small window "Mokchan Group Current Ranking No. 2 * is logged in. 5000 Bo" pops up at the bottom of the group members' window and disappears. When the user clicks on a specific icon, the user may check his or her physical activity information and may also check information on individual and group members.

The information or the method for providing the information that can be provided to the user terminal can be variously applied. For example, if the user selects the body group when there is a body group, the total number of participants, the names of the group rankings 1, 2, and 3, the number of walking, the ranking change information, and the like may be variously determined.

In addition, when a user wants a history of physical activity information or biometrics related information of the user or another user, the individual may check the results of the week and month, detailed physical activity information, and biometrics related information.

3 is a first embodiment showing a physical activity motivation method using an instant message according to the present invention.

First, the sensor device provided by the user measures and collects information related to physical activity of the user and biometric information in real time.

The physical activity information or the biometric information collected from the sensor device is transmitted to the instant messaging server through the communication means of the sensor device, and the instant messaging server receives the physical activity related information of the users through the information receiver (S320).

The instant messaging server stores the received physical activity information or the biometric information in the database, and the information continuously updated uses the same to update the already stored information (S330).

The instant messaging server continuously checks whether the user terminal is logged in (S340).

If there is a logged-in user as a result of the check, the physical activity information or biometric information of the user stored in the database is transmitted to the logged-in user terminal in the form of an instant message to the user terminal (S350).

For example, suppose a user has a pedometer and a blood pressure measuring device, and also carries a PDA, and the pedometer continuously measures the number of walking of the user, and the blood pressure measuring device measures the user's blood pressure. The measured physical activity information, such as the number of walking and blood pressure information, which is related to the living body, is transmitted to the instant messaging server.

The number of walking and blood pressure information is stored for each user in a database of an instant messaging server. Information stored in the database stores the user's changing information over time. In other words, the number of walking and blood pressure of the user is continuously stored for a week.

The user can log in to the instant messaging server while the PDA is running. Alternatively, the messenger program built into the PDA logs in to the instant messaging server at the same time as the PDA is operated.

The instant messaging server delivers information about the user's current walking count and blood pressure to the user's PDA when the user is logged in. Information on the number of walking and blood pressure of the user is continuously delivered in an instant message form, and the PDA pops up at the same time as the login and outputs the updated information. In addition, when the user wants to know the relationship between the number of walking and blood pressure during a week, the user can check the flow of walking and blood pressure during the week using the History button. Through this process, the user can confirm that blood pressure maintains a normal level as the number of walking increases, and can be motivated to continuously maintain or improve physical activity.

Figure 4 is a second embodiment showing a physical activity motivation method using an instant message according to the present invention.

The physical activity motivation method using the instant message according to the present invention is performed by receiving physical activity information or biometric information measured from a sensor device provided for each user. (S410) That is, all users connected to the instant messaging server are physically A sensor device for measuring activity information or bio-related information is provided, and the provided sensor device measures a physical activity or a bio signal of a user in real time or at regular intervals. The sensor devices of all users transmit the measured information to the instant messaging server by the communication means, and the instant messaging server receives the physical activity information or the biometric information of all the users.

Physical activity information or biometric information received from the users is stored in the database for each user and updated (S420).

When a group is formed between users, the physical activity information and the like of the users are stored and managed for each group using the body activity information or the biometric information of the users stored in the database. In addition, the ranking or level is determined for each user through comparison and analysis using physical activity information of the users for each group (S430).

The instant messaging server receives and manages physical activity information or biometric information from users, and also checks whether users are logged in (S440).

If there is a logged-in user as a result of the check, the physical activity information or biometric information of the logged-in user and the user's ranking and level in the group to which the user belongs are transmitted to the user terminal in an instant message form (S450). )

In addition, the physical activity information or biometric information of the other user in the group is delivered to the user terminal in the form of an instant message (S460).

For example, suppose that 10 of the users are subscribed to a diet group. The user includes a measuring device for body fat, which is bio-related information, and at the same time, a pedometer for measuring the number of walking, which is physical activity information, and a speed measuring device for detecting motion.

The pedometer, speed measuring device, and body fat measuring device provided to each user collect information on the number of walking and movement, which are the user's physical activity information, and measure the body fat information, which is bio-related information, in real time or at regular intervals. To pass.

The instant messaging server stores the number of walking, movement information, and body fat information in the database for each user. In addition, the ranking of the diet is calculated using the number of walking, movement, and body fat information for 10 users belonging to the diet group, using the number of walking, movement ranking, and body fat information. Analyze information about relationships.

The instant messaging server performs this process of receiving and analyzing this information and at the same time confirms whether the user is logged in.

If there are five logged-in users, the instant messaging server pops up the diet ranking of the user to the user terminal as soon as the user logs in. Then, the logged in users can check their desired information using the user terminal if necessary. In this process, the instant messaging server continuously delivers the user's physical activity information and biometric information to the logged-in user, and updates the information using the information transmitted from the sensor device in real time, and continuously delivers the information to the user terminal. do.

The user may check the diet results of other users of the diet group using the user terminal, and may also analyze correlations between them and the diet by checking the number of walking and moving time.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a physical activity motivation system using an instant message according to the present invention.

2 is a view showing the configuration of a physical activity motivation system using an instant message according to the present invention.

3 is a first embodiment showing a physical activity motivation method using an instant message according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a second embodiment showing a physical activity motivation method using an instant message according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: sensor device (device) 200: user terminal

410: information receiving unit 420: instant messaging control unit

430: group management unit 440: database

Claims (17)

In the physical activity motivation system using an instant message, An information receiver configured to receive physical activity information or biometric information for each user; A database for storing the received user-specific physical activity information or biometric information; The database is updated by using the information received by the information receiving unit, and health related information including physical activity information or biometric information of a user logged in through a user terminal is retrieved from the database in the form of an instant message. Instant messaging server comprising an instant messaging control unit for delivering to the user terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the information receiving unit The physical activity information or the biometrics related information is information collected from a sensor device provided by a user. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical activity information or the biometric information is And at least one of physical activity performance information, smoking amount information, blood sugar information, weight and body fat information, and blood pressure information. The method of claim 1, wherein the health-related information delivered by the instant messaging control unit And the present physical activity information or the biometric information of the logged-in user and the past physical activity information or the biometric information for a certain period of time. The method of claim 4, wherein the instant messaging control unit And the health related information continuously updated while the user terminal is logged in to the user terminal in an instant message form. In the physical activity motivation system using an instant message, An information receiver configured to receive physical activity information or biometric information for each user; A database for storing the received physical activity information or biometric information for each user; A group manager to determine each user level belonging to a preset group using information stored for each user in the database; Health-related information including physical activity information or biometric information of a user logged in through a user terminal and updated by the information receiving unit by using the information received by the database and the group management unit, and other of the group to which the user belongs. And an instant messaging control unit for transmitting the health related information of the user and the level determined by the group manager to the user terminal in the form of an instant message. The method of claim 6, wherein the information receiving unit The instant messaging server, characterized in that for receiving the sensor-specific physical activity information or the bio-related information measured by the user sensor devices provided for each user. The method of claim 6, wherein the physical activity information or bio-related information is And at least one of physical activity performance information, smoking amount information, blood sugar information, weight and body fat information, and blood pressure information. The method of claim 6, wherein the group management unit And determining each user level by comparing physical activity information or biometric information of users belonging to the group. Receiving physical activity information or biometric information collected from a user; Storing the received physical activity information or biometric information in a database; And transmitting the physical activity information or the biometric information of the user stored in the database to the user terminal in the form of an instant message to a logged-in user terminal. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical activity information or biometrics information collected from the user is Physical activity motivation method using an instant message, characterized in that collected from the sensor device provided by the user. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical activity information or the biometric information is And physical activity performance information, smoking amount information, blood sugar information, weight and body fat information, and blood pressure information. The method of claim 10, The physical activity motivation method using an instant message, characterized in that it further comprises the step of transmitting the physical activity information or biometric information of the user at a certain time in the past to the user terminal. Receiving physical activity information or bio-related information for each user; Storing and updating the received physical activity information or biometric information for each user in a database; Calculating the level of each user in a preset group by analyzing and comparing physical activity information or biometric information for each user stored in the database; And transmitting the physical activity information or the biometric information of the user and the level information of the user in the group to the logged-in user terminal to the user terminal in an instant message form. The method of claim 14, The physical activity information or the biometric information for each user is received from a sensor device provided for each user. The method of claim 14, The physical activity motivation method using an instant message, characterized in that it further comprises the step of transmitting the physical activity information or biometric information of the other user in the group to the user terminal in the form of an instant message. The method of claim 16, wherein the physical activity information or the biometric information is And physical activity performance information, smoking amount information, blood sugar information, weight and body fat information, and blood pressure information.

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