PACE SPEED ADVISING METHOD, PACE SPEED ADVISING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM USING THE METHOD

Abstract

A pace speed advising method, a pace speed advising apparatus, and a recording medium using the method are provided. In the method, a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path are obtained, and separated into multiple time slots. Then, a route of the user's path is obtained and a route information of the route is retrieved. Finally, a pace speed of each time slot is advised according to the route information.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/065,030, filed on Oct. 17, 2014 and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/072,403, filed on Oct. 29, 2014. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to an electronic apparatus and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for providing an advice with respect to a pace speed.

2. Description of Related Art

Due to the differences in physical conditions, such as cardiopulmonary functions and muscle oxygen consumption abilities, everyone has different physical fitness capabilities when running, especially in a long-distance marathon, the physical fitness capability changes significantly in each time slot. Without adaptively adjusting the physical strength, a runner may easily lose power after half of a race or even incur exercise injury. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a running scheme for the runner to check the progress while running and adaptively adjust the pace, so as to complete a target distance within a target time.

In order to provide the runner with his running progress, a current solution is to configure a pace table on the runner's wrist, in which a target distance the runner has to run is separated into multiple time slots and an expected completion time of the runner is equally distributed to the time slots, such that a distance to be done and the expected completion time of each time slot is marked on the pace table. Thereby, after completing a section, the runner can be aware of whether the current progress is ahead or behind only by checking the time that has been consumed so far and the expected completion time recorded on the pace table and accordingly, adjust the pace speed.

For example, FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a conventional pace table. Referring to FIG. 1, a pace table 10 is configured on a runner's wrist 12, in which a target distance of 13.1 miles and an expected completion time of 2 hours 12 minutes set by the runner are shown. The expected completion time per mile which is completed is sequentially shown in the following. For example, a distance of 1 mile is completed in 10 minutes 4 seconds, a distance of 2 miles is completed in 20 minutes 9 seconds, and so on. With assistance of the pace table 10, the runner can be aware of the current progress is ahead or behind when completing each mile only by checking and comparing the current time with the expected completion time recorded on the pace table and accordingly, adjust the pace speed.

However, the aforesaid pace table only equally distributing the target distance and time into multiple time slots for reminding the runner, without adjusting the pace speed in each time slot that truly reflects actual road conditions or physical conditions of the runner. Likewise, besides running, similar issues occur in pacing of exercises, such as walking, bicycle riding and swimming.

SUMMARY

In view of the issues in the conventional pace table that the actual road conditions or physical conditions of the runner are not considered, the application provides a pace speed advising method, an apparatus thereof and a recording medium using the method, capable of adaptively advising a pace speed for a user according to a variety of conditions occurring in the user's path, so as to help the user to complete an pace of a target distance within a total target time.

According to an embodiment of the application, a pace speed advising method adapted to provide a user with an advice for a pace speed by an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes obtaining a total target distance and a total target time of the user's path and separating the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots; then, obtaining a route of the user's path; retrieving route information of the route; and lastly, retrieving a current position of the user in the route information and a current time among the time slots, and advising a pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information.

In an embodiment of the application, the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information includes advising the pace speed of the current time slot, such that a total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time.

In an embodiment of the application, the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information includes adjusting the pace speed of each of the time slots according to topography information recorded in the route information, and the step includes in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of downhill, advising to increase the pace speed according to a gradient of the terrain; and in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of uphill, advising to decrease the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain.

In an embodiment of the application, the method further includes querying historical path data of the user and obtaining an average of speeds in various gradient conditions of the user; and advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the gradient of the current road section which is recorded in the route information and the average of the speeds in various gradient conditions.

In an embodiment of the application, the step of retrieving the route information of the route includes receiving foot pressure information of the user detected by at least one sensor configured on the user and determining a road quality of the current road section in the current time slot according to the foot pressure information.

In an embodiment of the application, the step of retrieving the route information of the route further includes retrieving a weather condition of the route according to the route information.

In an embodiment of the application, the method further includes receiving information with respect to at least one sensor configured on the user to determine a degree of fatigue of the user and accordingly advise to adjust the pace speed of the current time slot.

In an embodiment of the application, if the advised adjusted pace speed in the current time slot results in a total path time of all of the time slots being greater than the total target time, the method further includes generating a reminder signal to remind the user.

In an embodiment of the application, the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information includes in response to the current speed faster than the pace speed, displaying an ahead message; and in response to the current speed slower than the pace speed, displaying a behind message.

According to an embodiment of the application, a pace speed advising apparatus including an input unit, a positioning unit, a storage unit and a processor. The input unit is configured to obtain a route of the user's path, a total target distance and a total target time. The positioning unit is configured to detect a current position of the user. The storage unit is configured to store a plurality of modules. The processor is connected with the input unit, the positioning unit and the storage unit and configured to load and execute the modules stored in the storage unit. The modules includes a pace speed advising module configured to separate the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots, retrieve route information of the route, retrieve a current position of the user in the route information and a current time slot among the time slots, and advise the pace speed in the current time slot on the prompt unit according to route information.

In an embodiment of the application, the pace speed advising module advises the pace speed of the current time slot, such that a total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time.

In an embodiment of the application, the pace speed advising module adjusts the pace speed of each of the time slots according to topography information recorded in the route information, and the operation includes in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of downhill, advising to increase the pace speed according to a gradient of the terrain; and in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of uphill, advising to decrease the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain.

In an embodiment of the application, the modules further includes a historical data query module configured to query historical path data of the user and obtain an average of speeds in various gradient conditions of the user. The pace speed advising module advises the pace speed in the current time slot according to the gradient of the current road section which is recorded in the route information and the average of the speeds in various gradient conditions.

In an embodiment of the application, the modules further includes a road quality module configured to receive foot pressure information of the user detected by at least one sensor configured on the user and determine a road quality of the current road section in the current time slot according to the foot pressure information.

In an embodiment of the application, the pace speed advising module further retrieves a weather condition of the route according to the route information.

In an embodiment of the application, the pace speed advising module further receives information with respect to at least one sensor configured on the user to determine a degree of fatigue of the user to advise to adjust the pace speed of the current time slot.

In an embodiment of the application, if the adjusted pace speed in the current time slot advised by the pace speed advising module results in a total path time of all of the time slots being greater than the total target time, the pace speed advising module further generates a reminder signal to remind the user.

In an embodiment of the application, the pace speed advising module displays an ahead message in response to the current speed faster than the pace speed and displays a behind message in response to current speed slower than the pace speed.

In an embodiment of the application, the apparatus transmits the advised pace speed to another mobile apparatus to display the advised pace speed information on the another apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the application, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium is provided, which stores programs to be loaded by an electronic apparatus to execute the following steps: obtaining a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path and separating the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots; obtaining a route of the user's path; retrieving route information of the route; and retrieving a current position in the route information of the user and a current time slot where the user is located among the time slots, and advising a pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information.

To sum up, in the pace speed advising method, the apparatus thereof and the using the method provided by the application, the information related to the user's path is retrieved, the user's physical condition is monitored, and thereby, the pace speed in each time slot is planned, and the user is reminded to pay attention thereto. In this way, it can help the user to complete the path of the total target distance within the total target time by using the suitable pace speed.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the present application more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a conventional pace table.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a pace speed advising apparatus according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B illustrate an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B illustrate an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C illustrate an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the application, not only a predetermined completion time and a recommended average pace speed of each time slot are planned according to a total target distance and a total target time set by a user, but also a pace speed of the user in the time slot is advised by querying information with respect to a route of the user. Thereby, the application can help the user to complete the path of the total target distance within the total target time. The application can not only facilitate the user in pacing the speed when jogging, but also be applied to speed pacing when doing exercises, such as walking, bicycle riding or swimming.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a pace speed advising apparatus according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 2, a pace speed advising apparatus 20 of the present embodiment is, for example, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) phone, a tablet PC, a notebook computer (NS), a smart watch, a smart wristband, smart glasses or any other type of electronic apparatus, or a combination thereof (e.g., a combination of a smart phone and smart wristband). The pace speed advising apparatus 20 includes an input unit 21, a positioning unit 22, a prompt unit 23, a storage unit 24 and a processor 25, and functions thereof will be respectively described below.

The input unit 21 is an input tool, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, a variety of sensors (e.g., an acceleration sensor) or a touch screen formed by integrating a resistive, a capacitive, an optical or any other type touch sensing element with an LCD.

The positioning unit 22 is configured to position the pace speed advising apparatus 20 to obtain a current position of the pace speed advising apparatus 20, which may be, for example, a global positioning system (GPS), a system performing a positioning operation by using WiFi hotspots or any other communication system performing the positioning operation by using wireless communication signals of wireless communication base stations, which is not limited in the application.

The prompt unit 23 may be a general type display, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a field emission display (FED) or any other suitable display. The prompt unit 23 and the input unit 21 may also be integrated as a touch screen and may detect an input operation of a user when displaying a pace speed suggested by the pace speed advising apparatus 20. Additionally, the prompt unit 23 may also be a speaker prompting the pace speed suggested by the pace speed advising apparatus 20 in a voice mode or prompting different contents by using one or more lights in different brightness levels, colors, and/or numbers.

The storage unit 24 may be any type of fixed or movable random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory or a similar element or a combination of aforesaid elements. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 24 is configured to record a pace speed advising module 242. The pace speed advising module 242 is, for example, a program stored in the storage unit 24 which may be loaded into the processor 25 of the pace speed advising apparatus 20, such that the processor 25 may execute a pace speed advising function.

The processor 25 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a programmable general purpose or special purpose microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other similar device or a combination thereof. The processor 25 is connected with the input unit 21, the positioning unit 22, the prompt unit 23, and the storage unit 24 and loads the program of the pace speed advising module 242 from the storage unit 24 to perform a pace speed advising method of the application. Embodiments describing detailed steps of the method will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 3, the method of the present embodiment is applicable to the pace speed advising apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 2, and detailed steps of the pace speed advising method of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to each element of the pace speed advising apparatus 20.

First, the processor 25 obtains a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path by using the input unit 21 or downloads the total target distance and the total target time from a web service, for example a road running event website, and separates the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots (step S302) or may be referred to as milestones, which may remind the user how much time will be taken or before which time to complete the distance in each time slot. Wherein, the processor 25 separates the total target distance into a plurality of time slots by using, for example, kilometers or miles as a unit, and in an embodiment, the total target time is equally distributed to the time slots.

Then, the processor 25 obtains a route of the user's path by the input unit 21 or from the web service (step S304). In an embodiment, the user may input a destination by the input unit 21, and at this time, the processor 25 plans a route to the destination according to a current position of the user obtained by the positioning unit 22. In another embodiment, the user may also draw a route on an electronic map, or capture a route and convert the route into an electronic map by using the input unit 21 to serve as the route of the user's path. In other embodiments, the user may download a route from a service website (e.g., a road running event website) through Internet, which is not limited in the application.

Then, the processor 25 retrieves information with respect to the route (step S306). In an embodiment, the processor 25, for example, accesses an electronic map database built in the pace speed advising apparatus 20 and retrieve the information with respect to the route of the user from the electronic map database. In another embodiment, the processor 25 may connect with a remote database (e.g., an electronic map database, a weather database, a database recording terrain features or topographies) by using a communication module or a networking module to download the information with respect to the route, which is not limited in the application. The route information includes, for example, topographic information or weather information, and the topographic information includes landform information such as uphill, downhill, leftist, rightist, or road quality information such as asphalt, gravel, polyurethane (PU) roads or sandy beach). In an embodiment, after the information with respect to the route is retrieved, the time required by each time slot may be adjusted directly according to the retrieved route information and displayed on the pace speed advising apparatus 20 for user's reference in advance, so as to achieve pacing in each time slot, rather than equally distributing the total target time in each time slot. The time required by each time slot may be displayed, for example, in a manner that the time required by each time slot (e.g., how many minutes and seconds are required by each time slot), in a manner that the time of each time slot is displayed in an accumulation manner, or in a manner that each time slot is required to be completed before a specific clock time, which is not limited in the application.

Then, the processor 25 retrieves a current position of the user in the route information by using the positioning unit 22 and retrieves a current time slot of the user among the time slots, and further instantly advises a pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information (step S308). For example, the processor 25 may display an ahead message on the prompt unit 23 when the current speed faster than the pace speed and display a behind message on the prompt unit 23 when the current speed slower than the pace speed. In an embodiment, the processor 25 may also display different behind messages according to a degree (e.g., a time difference) of how the current speed slower than the pace speed in different colors, sounds, text and/or lights, for example. It should be noted that the processor 25 will advise the pace speed of the current time slots, such that the total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time to ensure the user to complete the entire route within the set total target time.

For example, FIGS. 4, 5A to 5B, 6A to 6B, and 7A to 7C are examples of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 4 first, a smart wristband 40 which is wearable on the user's wrist is illustrated as an example in the present embodiment, where a touch screen 42 of the smart wristband 40 displays an operation interface, receives an input operation of the user, and displays the advised pace speed according to the input operation.

Referring to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B, the smart wristband 40 displays a setting screen 52 for the total target distance on the touch screen 42, and the user may perform a touch operation (e.g., a vertical slide operation) on the setting screen 52 so as to set the total target distance of the path. After the total target distance is set, the smart wristband 40, for example, continues to display a setting screen 54 for the total target time on the touch screen 42, and the user may performing a touch operation (e.g., a horizontal slide operation) on an hour-setting window 542 and a minute-setting window 544 in the setting screen 54. In another embodiment, the smart wristband 40 may also download the total target distance and the total target time from the web service, or connect with another apparatus to set the total target distance and the total target time or download them from the website through performing an operation on the another apparatus, or alternatively, set the total target distance and the total target time or download them from the website through performing an operation on another apparatus and then, connect with the smart wristband 40 to transmit the total target distance and the total target time to the smart wristband 40.

Referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B, if a target distance set by the user is 13.1 miles in a half marathon event, and a target time is 2 hours, the smart wristband 40 displays a pace table 62 as illustrated in FIG. 6A on the touch screen 42, which includes a target time per 1 mile. In an embodiment, the target time is obtained by equally distributing the total target time set by the user to each time slot. In another embodiment, after the route information is retrieved, the time required by each time slot may be adjusted correspondingly according to the route information and displayed on the pace table 62. Similarly, if the target distance set by the user is 13.1 miles in the half marathon event, and the target time is 2 hours 15 minutes, the smart wristband 40 displays a pace table 64 as illustrated in FIG. 6B on the touch screen 42, in which the target time of each time slot is a little bit more than the target time of each time slot in the pace table 62.

Referring to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C, during the user's progress, the smart wristband 40 retrieves the position and the time slot where the user is currently located, so as to advise the pace speed for the current time slot according to the route information. Referring to a pace speed advising frame 72 as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the smart wristband 40, for example, displays a path start time 722, a current path time 724, a target time 726 in the current time slot and a pace speed advice 728 obtained by comparing the path time 724 with the target time 726 on the pace speed advising frame 72. Since the current path time 724 of the user is 1 minute shorter than the target time 726, the smart wristband 40 displays “1 Min Ahead” in the pace speed advice 728 so as to indicate that the pace speed of the user in the current time slot is 1 minute faster than the expected speed. Similarly, referring to the pace speed advising frame 74 illustrated in FIG. 7B, a current path time 744 of the user is 1 minute longer than a target time 746, thus, the smart wristband 40 displays “1 Min Behind.” in the pace speed advice 748 so as to indicate that the pace speed of the user in the current time slot is 1 minute slower than the expected speed. Furthermore, referring to a pace speed advising frame 76 illustrated in FIG. 7C, a current path time 764 of the user is two minutes longer than the target time 746, thus, the smart wristband 40 displays “2 Min Behind.” in the pace speed advice 768 so as to indicate that the pace speed of the user in the current time slot is 2 minutes slower than the expected speed.

Through the method described above, the user may know from the pace speed advising apparatus about whether the current pace speed faster or slower and accordingly, adjust the pace speed in the next time slots, so as to complete the path of the total target distance within the set total target time. It should be noted that pace speed advising apparatus of the application may further adjust the advised pace speed according to topographic information or road condition information recorded in the route information and a road quality determined by means of, for example, detecting foot pressure information of the user. Another embodiment will be provided below for detailed description.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 8, the method of the present embodiment is applied to the pace speed advising apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 2, and detailed steps of the pace speed advising method of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to each element of the pace speed advising apparatus 20.

First, the processor 25 obtains the total target distance and the total target time of the user and separates the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots (step S802). Then, the processor 25 obtains a route of the user's path (step S804). Steps S802 to S804 described above are the same as or similar to steps S302 to S304 of the preceding embodiment and thus, detailed contents will not be repeated.

Different from the preceding embodiment, in the present embodiment, the processor 25 retrieves the topography information of the route (step S806) and retrieves the current position and the time slots where the user is located, so as to instantly advise the user to adjust the pace speed in the corresponding time slot according to the topography information (step S808), or to display the pace speed in the pace table in advance as a reference. For example, the topography information may be gradient information. If a terrain of a road section in the current time slot is down-hill, the processor 25 may advise to increase the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain, and if the terrain of the road section in the current time slot is up-hill, the processor 25 may advise to decrease the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain.

It is to be noted that in order to ensure that the user is able to complete the path within the predetermined total target time, the processor 25 may, for example, determine whether the total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted exceeds the total target time when advising to adjust the pace speed of the current time slot. For example, if the up-hill road sections are increased, the number of the time slots in which the pace speed is advised to be decreased is increased, such that the total path time may exceed the total target time. In this case, the processor 25 may, for example, advise to increase the moving speed in other time slots, such that the total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time.

It should be noted that in an embodiment, the processor 25 may also determine the advised pace speed according to historical data of the user going uphill and downhill. In detail, the processor 25 may load and execute, for example, a historical data query module (not shown) from the storage unit 24, so as to query the historical path data of the user and obtain an average of speeds in various gradient conditions of the user. Then, the processor 25 executes the pace speed advising module 242 to advise the pace speed in the current time slot according to the gradient of the current road section recorded in the route information and the average of the speeds in various gradient conditions of the user. For example, if the historical data of the user indicates the user is able to run faster under the gradient condition of the current road section, the processor 25 may advise a faster pace speed. Otherwise, if the historical data of the user indicates the user run slower under the gradient condition of the current road section, the processor 25 may advise a slower pace speed. Similarly, when advising the pace speed in the current time slot, the processor 25 may also determines whether the total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted exceeds the total target time, so as to adjust the advised pace speed in other time slots.

Returning to the process of FIG. 8, the processor 25 may also retrieve a weather condition of the route (step S806) and retrieve the current position and the current time slot where the user is located, so as to adjust the originally advised pace speed in the time slot according to the retrieved weather condition (step S808). The weather condition includes information with respect to various weather types, such as temperatures, humidity, wind directions, wind speeds, or rain, which is not limited in the application. For example, if the floor of the current position of the user is wet and slippery because it is raining or previously rained, the processor 25 may, for example, decrease the advised pace speed previously set for the current time slot to avoid danger. If the weather is hot in the position where the user is located, the processor 25 may, for example, increase or decrease the advised pace speed in the current time slot according to the temperature degrees of the current position.

On the other hand, the processor 25 may load and execute, for example, a road quality module (not shown) from the storage unit 24, so as to receive foot pressure information of the user detected by a sensor configured on the user and determine the road quality of the current road section in the time slot according to the foot pressure information (step S814). Then, the processor 25 executes the pace speed advising module 242 to retrieve the current position and the current time slot where the user is located, so as to adjust the originally advised pace speed in the time slot according to the determined road quality (step S808). To be specific, in the present embodiment, one or more sensors (e.g., pressure sensors) are configured on the user's sole to detect a foot pressure condition (e.g., a pressure distribution condition) during the path of the user, such that the road quality of the current road section may be inferred. For example, a pressure distribution may be irregularly concentrated in certain points in a gravel road, but equally distributed in a PU road. For different types of road quality, the processor 25 adjusts the originally advised pace speed in the time slot, such that the advised pace speed may meet the road condition. In the same way, information with respect to the road quality of corresponding route may also be downloaded from the Internet in another embodiment.

Through the method described above, the pace speed advising apparatus 20 may adjust the advised pace speed with consideration of various factors that may occur during user's path, so as to advise the user with a pace manner adaptive to the environment where he/she is located.

It should be noted that in addition to the information related to the path, the pace speed advising apparatus of the application may further monitor a degree of fatigue of the user during the progress, so as to adjust the advised pace speed. Another embodiment will be provided below for detailed description.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 9, the method of the present embodiment is applied to the pace speed advising apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 2, and detailed steps of the pace speed advising method of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to each element of the pace speed advising apparatus 20.

First, the processor 25 receives information with respect to a sensor configured on the user to determine a degree of fatigue of the user, so as to advise to adjust the pace speed in the current time slots (step S902). The sensor may be, for example, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, or an electronic compass and may be configured to detect a pace condition of the user in the path, so as to infer the degree of fatigue of the user.

For example, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate examples of the pace speed advising method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to FIG. 10 first, in the present embodiment, a sensor 102 is fixed to a shoestring of a shoe 104 for detecting a pace condition of the user during the progress. Additionally, the sensor 102 transmits detected sensor information to a pace speed advising apparatus 100 through a wireless communication technique, such as Bluetooth or WiFi, such that the pace speed advising apparatus 100 determines the degree of fatigue of the user according to the sensor information. Alternatively, the sensor information may also be transmitted to another apparatus, such that the another apparatus determines the degree of fatigue of the user according to the sensor information and then, transmits it to the pace speed advising apparatus 100. If determining that the pace of the user has an underpronation or overpronation state as illustrated in FIG. 11, the pace speed advising apparatus 100 determines the degree of fatigue of the user according to a degree of the underpronation or overpronation state and thereby, advise to adjust the pace speed in the current time slot according to the sensor information.

It should be noted that the present embodiment is different from the preceding embodiments in that the processor 25 may adaptively extend the path time in case the user is determined as in the fatigue state, rather than enforce the user to complete the path within the expected target time, so as to protect the user from sports injury due to excessive exercise. In this case, the processor 25 may, for example, determine whether the adjusted pace speed in the current time slot results in the total path time of all of the time slots being greater than the total target time (step S904). If the total path time is greater than the total target time, the processor 25 may generate a reminder signal on the prompt unit 23 to remind the user (step S906) and may request the user to further confirm whether to accept the advised adjusted pace speed or to keep the original pace speed without decreasing the pace speed to complete the entire route within the total target time. On the contrary, if the total path time is not greater than the total target time, the flow is returned to step S902, and the processor 25 continues to determine the degree of fatigue of the user for adjusting the pace speed. Thereby, the user may realize his/her physical condition according to the reminder signal, so as to determine whether to keep the original pace speed to achieve the goal, or to decrease the pace speed to avoid injury. Similarly, in the embodiment of advising to decrease the pace speed according to the route information, if determining that the total path time may exceed the total target time, the processor 25 may also generate a reminder signal on the prompt unit 23 to remind the user, such that the user may further confirm whether to accept the advised adjusted pace speed to keep the original pace speed.

The application further provides a non-transitory computer readable recording medium, which stores a program configured to perform each step of the pace speed advising method. The program is composed of a plurality of program code segments (e.g., organization chart establishing code segment, approving code segment, setting code segment and a deployment code segment), and the code segments after being loaded into the electronic apparatus can complete the steps of the pace speed advising method.

In addition, as described above, the pace speed advising method, the apparatus thereof and the recording medium using the method may not only applied to the scene of running, but also applied to other scenes of exercise, such as walking, bicycle riding, or swimming, especially the exercises with a long-distance, and can advise the user of the pace speed or even adjusting the pace speed in real time in each time slot according to the route information or the user's physical condition. For example, a cadence speed in a bicycle riding may also be adjusted according to various route information so as to advise a pace speed suitable for the user.

Based on the above, in the pace speed advising method, the apparatus thereof and the recording medium using the method provided by the application, the information related the user's path is retrieved, the user's physical condition is monitored, and thereby, the pace speed in each time slot is planned and used to remind the user. In this way, the application can help the user to complete the path of the total target distance within the total target time under suitable pace speed.

Although the application has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the application. Accordingly, the scope of the application will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.

Claims

1. A pace speed advising method, adapted to provide a user with an advice for a pace speed by an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path and separating the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots;

obtaining a route of the user's path;

retrieving route information of the route; and

retrieving a current position of the user in the route information and a current time slot among the time slots, and advising a pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information comprises:

advising the pace speed of the current time slot, such that a total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information comprises:

adjusting the pace speed of each of the time slots according to topography information recorded in the route information, comprising: in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of downhill, advising to increase the pace speed according to a gradient of the terrain; and in response to the road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of uphill, advising to decrease the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

querying historical path data of the user and obtaining an average of speeds in various gradient conditions of the user; and

advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the gradient of the current road section which is recorded in the route information and the average of the speeds in various gradient conditions.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving the route information of the route comprises:

receiving foot pressure information of the user detected by at least one sensor configured on the user and determining a road quality of the current road section in the current time slot according to the foot pressure information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving the route information of the route further comprises:

retrieving a weather condition of the route according to the route information.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information with respect to at least one sensor configured on the user to determine a degree of fatigue of the user and accordingly advise to adjust the pace speed of the current time slot.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the advised adjusted pace speed in the current time slot results in a total path time of all of the time slots being greater than the total target time, generating a reminder signal to remind the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of advising the pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information comprises:

in response to the current speed faster than the pace speed, displaying an ahead message; and

in response to the current speed slower than the pace speed, displaying a behind message.

10. A pace speed advising apparatus, comprising:

an input unit, obtaining a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path;

a positioning unit, detecting a current position of the user;

a prompt unit, prompting an advised pace speed;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of modules; and

a processor, connected with the input unit, the positioning unit, the prompt unit and the storage unit, loading and executing the modules stored in the storage unit, the modules comprising: a pace speed advising module, separating the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots, retrieving route information of the route, retrieving a current position of the user in the route information and a current time slot among the time slots, and advising the pace speed in the current time slot on the prompt unit according to route information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pace speed advising module advises the pace speed of the current time slot, such that a total path time of all the time slots after the pace speed is adjusted is equal to or less than the total target time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pace speed advising module adjusts the pace speed of each of the time slots according to topography information recorded in the route information, and the operation comprises:

in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of downhill, advising to increase the pace speed according to a gradient of the terrain; and

in response to a road section in one of the time slots having a terrain of uphill, advising to decrease the pace speed according to the gradient of the terrain.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the modules further comprise:

a historical data query module, querying historical path data of the user and obtaining an average of speeds in various gradient conditions of the user,

wherein the pace speed advising module advises the pace speed in the current time slot according to the gradient of the current road section which is recorded in the route information and the average of the speeds in various gradient conditions.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the modules further comprise:

a road quality module, receiving foot pressure information of the user detected by at least one sensor configured on the user and determining a road quality of the road section in the current time slot according to the foot pressure information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pace speed advising module further retrieves a weather condition of the route according to the route information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pace speed advising module further receives information with respect to at least one sensor configured on the user to determine a degree of fatigue of the user to advise to adjust the pace speed of the current time slot.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein if the adjusted pace speed in the current time slot advised by the pace speed advising module results in a total path time of all of the time slots being greater than the total target time, the pace speed advising module further generates a reminder signal to remind the user.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pace speed advising module displays an ahead message in response to the current speed faster than the pace speed and displays a behind message in response to current speed slower than the pace speed.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus transmits the advised pace speed to another mobile apparatus to display the advised pace speed information on the another apparatus.

20. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium, recording a program, loaded by an apparatus to perform steps of:

obtaining a total target distance and a total target time of a user's path and separating the total target distance and the total target time into a plurality of time slots;

obtaining a route of the user's path;

retrieving route information of the route; and

retrieving a current position of the user in the route information and a current time slot among the time slots, and advising a pace speed in the current time slot according to the route information.