METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE VENTILATORY AND RESPIRATORY COMPENSATION THRESHOLDS

1 . A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method to determine a ventilator threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT), said method comprising:

measuring breathing patterns of a user;

measuring heart rate of said user; and

determining a VT and a RCT for said user based on an analysis of said breathing patterns and said heart rate.

2 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said computer system comprises a microphone and wherein the measuring of said breathing patterns comprises recording breathing of said user using said microphone.

3 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 2 , wherein said computer system is selected from the group comprising: a portable computer, a mobile electronic device, and a smart phone.

4 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said measuring of said heart rate comprises monitoring a heart beat of said user using a heart rate monitoring device.

5 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 4 , wherein said heart rate monitoring device is a heart monitor transmitter belt.

6 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises displaying said breathing patterns and said heart rate on a display screen.

7 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 6 , wherein said method further comprises displaying statistical information regarding an exercise program during which said breathing patterns and said heart rate are measured for said user.

8 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said breathing patterns and said heart rate are transmitted to said computer system wirelessly.

9 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said analysis comprises using a programmed relationship between said breathing patterns and said heart rate to determine said VT and said RCT for said user.

10 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 9 , wherein said breathing patterns and said heart rate used in said analysis are pre-recorded, and wherein said breathing pattern and said heart rate are recorded within the same time interval.

11 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said breathing patterns can be measured from a prerecorded audio file, wherein said audio file comprises recorded samples of breathing of said user.

12 . The computer-readable medium as described in claim 1 , wherein said measuring of said heart rate is performed while said user is exercising.

13 . A method for determining a ventilator threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT), said method comprising:

measuring breathing patterns of a user;

measuring heart rate of said user; and

using a computer system determining a VT and a RCT for said user based on an analysis of said breathing patterns and said heart rate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the computer system comprises a microphone and wherein the measuring of said breathing patterns comprises recording a breathing of said user using the microphone.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said computer system is selected from the group comprising: a portable computer, a mobile electronic device, and a smart phone.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the measuring of said heart rate comprises monitoring a heart beat of said user using a heart rate monitoring device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said heart rate monitoring device is a heart monitor transmitter belt coupled to said computer system.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises displaying said breathing patterns and said heart rate on a display screen of said computer system.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said analysis comprises using a programmed relationship between said breathing patterns and said heart rate to determine said VT and said RCT for said user.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said breathing patterns can be measured from a prerecorded audio file, wherein said prerecorded audio file comprises recorded samples of breathing of said user.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said measuring of said heart rate is performed while said user is exercising.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises displaying statistical information regarding an exercise program during which said breathing patterns and said heart rate are measured for said user.

23 . A portable apparatus for determining a ventilator threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT), said apparatus comprising:

a memory comprising an application for determining a VT and a RCT stored therein;

a microphone for recording a breathing of a user;

a communicative interface for receiving pulse rate information from said user;

a processor coupled to said memory, wherein said processor is configured to operate in accordance with said application to:

measure breathing patterns of said user using said breathing recorded using said microphone;

measure heart rate of said user using said pulse rate information; and

determine a VT and a RCT for said user based on an analysis of said breathing patterns and said heart rate.