Enhancing music for repetitive motion activities
Inventors
McCarthy, Owen • Harris, Brian • Kalpaxis, Alex • Guerette, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10556087-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of providing repetitive motion therapy comprising providing access to audio content; selecting audio content for delivery to a patient; performing an analysis on the selected audio content, the analysis identifying audio features of the selected audio content, and extracting rhythmic and structural features of the selected audio content; performing an entrainment suitability analysis on the selected audio content; generating entrainment assistance cue(s) to the selected audio content, the assistance cue(s) including a sound added to the audio content; applying the assistance cues to the audio content simultaneously with playing the selected audio content; evaluating a therapeutic effect on the patient, wherein the selected audio content continues to play when a therapeutic threshold is detected, and a second audio content is selected for delivery to the patient when a therapeutic threshold is not detected.
Core Innovation
The invention provides repetitive motion therapy by selecting a piece of audio content for delivery to a patient using a processor on a computer system. After access to one or more pieces of audio content, the processor selects the audio content and performs an analysis by identifying audio features and extracting rhythmic and structural features.
Based on the extracted rhythmic and structural features, the processor performs an entrainment suitability analysis to identify features suitable for augmenting using cues to trigger kinematic motion. The invention generates entrainment assistance cues based on the entrainment suitability analysis, where the assistance cues include a sound added to one or more of the identified features of the selected audio content.
The processor applies the assistance cues simultaneously with playing the selected audio content, thereby playing the selected audio content augmented with the assistance cues using an audio output device. The therapy is evaluated using biomechanical data of the patient captured using a sensor while the selected audio content and the assistance cues are played, and the method repeats one or more steps when the therapeutic effect fails to meet a therapeutic threshold.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims covering computer-implemented repetitive motion therapy using selected audio content augmented with entrainment assistance cues, with evaluation using sensor-captured biomechanical data and iterative or database-updating behavior.
Computer-implemented audio selection with entrainment suitability analysis and cue augmentation
Providing access to one or more pieces of audio content; selecting a piece of audio content for delivery to a patient; performing an analysis including identifying audio features and extracting rhythmic and structural features; performing an entrainment suitability analysis to identify features suitable for augmenting using cues to trigger kinematic motion; generating entrainment assistance cues including a sound added to one or more of the identified features; applying the assistance cues simultaneously with playing the selected audio content using an audio output device; evaluating therapeutic effect using biomechanical data captured by a sensor while playing; continuing when the therapeutic effect meets a therapeutic threshold and repeating selection, analysis, and cue generation when the therapeutic effect fails to meet the therapeutic threshold.
Database-driven selection with tempo determination, suitability scoring, and therapeutic evaluation
Providing access to a computer-accessible database containing a plurality of pieces of audio content; selecting a piece of audio content for delivery to a patient; performing an analysis including identifying audio features and determining a tempo of the selected audio content; evaluating a therapeutic effect based on biomechanical data captured using a sensor while the selected audio content is played; performing an entrainment suitability analysis assigning a suitability score to a plurality of music aspects suitable for augmenting using cues to trigger kinematic motion; generating entrainment assistance cues as a function of the suitability score including a sound added to the selected audio content; applying the assistance cues simultaneously with playing the selected audio content using an audio output device; updating the database to integrate a result from the evaluating step.
Multi-aspect tempo and rhythm scoring with specialized cue types
Providing access to one or more pieces of audio content; selecting a piece of audio content for delivery to a patient; performing an analysis including identifying audio features and determining a tempo of the selected audio content; performing an entrainment suitability analysis including assigning a suitability score to aspects including average tempo, beat strength, tempo variance, tempo perception, time signature, rhythmic pattern variance, and song duration, and detecting rhythmic parts throughout the audio content and the position of first and last beat; generating entrainment assistance cues as a function of the suitability score including a sound added to the selected audio content, where the sound added includes a single percussive sound played on a beat, a percussive sound played on a beat and its subdivisions, a drum pattern synchronized with the selected audio content, and voice counting beats of the selected audio content; and providing repetitive motion therapy by playing the selected audio content and the assistance cues.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on selecting audio content, analyzing rhythmic and structural features and tempo, running an entrainment suitability analysis to generate entrainment assistance cues with added sounds synchronized to the audio, applying the augmented audio while collecting biomechanical sensor data to evaluate therapeutic effect, and using therapeutic threshold logic and database updating as part of the method.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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