Networked biometrically secured fitness device scheduler

• US 20020082142A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Johanson, James A., Cannon, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,561,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0697 Reservation devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for scheduling and controlling access to physical fitness devices. A prospective user makes an entry into a reservation system reserving the timeframe to use a particular fitness device. Each physical fitness device is provided with a biometric sensor that allows a prospective user to enter biometric data into a database. The database contains records of each prospective user'"'"'s biometric data. The reservation system and the biometric characteristics database are associated with a central controller. A prospective user is identified by providing biometric data to the database via the sensor associated with a particular fitness device. The central controller determines whether or not to allow the user access by determining if the user is scheduled in the reservation system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the use of a physical fitness device, the method comprising:

acquiring at a physical fitness device at least one biometric characteristic of a potential user;

identifying said potential user from said biometric characteristic; and

determining from a reservation system if a potential user identified by said biometric characteristic is entitled to use said physical fitness device at that time and, if so, enabling use said physical fitness device.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving from said potential user an input of a desired time schedule to use said physical fitness device and entering said desired time schedule into said reservation system.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising utilizing said user input desired time schedule in said determining step to determine if said user is entitled to use said physical fitness device.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said user input time schedule comprises date, start time, and time duration of use information.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said reservation system is comprised of multiple reservation systems in various locations.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said desired time schedule comprises desired date, start time, time duration of use, and location information.

7. The method according to claim 2 wherein said potential user is capable of accessing said reservation system over a communications link via a remote or local interface.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said communications link is a wired connection.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said communications link is a wireless connection.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein said communications link is an Internet connection.

11. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sending at least one reminder of a scheduled fitness equipment use to said potential user through a user interface.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a biometric characteristics database stores at least one biometric characteristic from each said potential user of said physical fitness device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of comparing said transmitted biometric characteristic entered by said potential user to said stored at least one biometric characteristic to identify said potential user.

14. The method according to claim 1 further comprising monitoring use of said physical fitness device to determine when an allotted timeframe to use said physical fitness device has expired.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising disabling said physical fitness device when said allotted timeframe has expired.

16. The method according to claim 1 further comprising enabling use of an unreserved said physical fitness device for a predetermined time duration which does not interfere with a scheduled use of said physical fitness device.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising receiving from said potential user an input of a desired time schedule to use said physical fitness device and entering said desired time schedule into said time of use scheduler.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said user input time schedule comprises date, start time, and time duration of use information.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said scheduler is comprised of multiple schedulers in various locations.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising receiving from said potential user an input of a desired date, start time, time duration, and location of use information and entering said input into said scheduler.

22. The method according to claim 17 wherein said potential user is capable of accessing said scheduler over a communications link via a remote or local interface.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein said communications link is a wired connection.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein said communications link is a wireless connection.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein said communications link is an Internet connection.

26. The method according to claim 18 further comprising sending at least one reminder of a scheduled fitness equipment use to said potential user through a user interface.

27. The method according to claim 17 wherein said acquired biometric information is transmitted to a biometric characteristics database.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said biometric characteristics database stores at least one biometric characteristic from each said potential user of said physical fitness devices.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising comparing said acquired biometric information from said potential user to said stored at least one biometric characteristic to identify said potential user.

30. The method according to claim 17 further comprising monitoring use of said physical fitness device to determine when an allotted timeframe for a user of said physical fitness device has expired.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising disabling said physical fitness device when said allotted timeframe device has expired.

32. The method according to claim 17 further comprising enabling use of an unreserved said physical fitness device for a predetermined time duration which does not interfere with a scheduled use of said physical fitness device.

17. A method for controlling use of a physical fitness device, the method comprising:

acquiring biometric information from a potential user of a physical fitness device;

using said acquired biometric information to check a time of use scheduler to see if said potential user is able to use said physical fitness device; and

enabling use of said physical fitness device if said scheduler indicates that said identified user is permitted to use said physical fitness device.

33. A method for scheduling use of a physical fitness device, the method comprising:

storing a requested use schedule for a physical fitness device in association with the identity of a requesting user in response to user input;

acquiring a biometric characteristic at said physical fitness device of a potential user; and

providing access to said physical fitness device when the current time coincides with a stored schedule associated with a user identified by said biometric characteristic.

34. The method according to claim 33 further comprising receiving a reservation request from a potential user containing information of a date and time period of use requested and storing said reservation request in association with a user identification if said physical fitness device is available for the period of use requested.

35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising sending at least one reminder of a scheduled fitness equipment use to said potential user through a user interface.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising comparing said provided biometric characteristic entered by said potential user with a stored at least one biometric characteristic to identify said potential user.

37. The method according to claim 33 further comprising monitoring use of said physical fitness device to determine when an allotted timeframe of use of said physical fitness device has expired.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising disabling said physical fitness device when said allotted timeframe has expired.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said controller is further operable to determine when an allotted timeframe to use said physical fitness device has expired and, in response, disable said physical fitness device.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said controller includes a biometric characteristics database that stores at least one biometric characteristic of each said potential user.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said biometric characteristic database compares said stored at least one biometric characteristic with said acquired biometric information to determine the identity of said potential user.

43. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said controller includes a reservation system capable of receiving and storing said user scheduling information.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said reservation system is comprised of multiple reservation systems in various locations.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said user scheduling information comprises desired date, start time, and time duration of use information.

46. The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said user scheduling information comprises desired date, start time, time duration, and location of use information.

47. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said controller is configured to send periodic reminders of said user scheduling information to said potential user.

39. An apparatus for controlling use of a physical fitness device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one physical fitness device;

a sensor provided in association with each said physical fitness device capable of perceiving at least one biometric characteristic of a potential user of the associated device;

a communication system; and

a controller connected to each said physical fitness device sensor by said communications system, said controller containing user scheduling information for each said physical fitness device, said controller being operable to acquire biometric information from said potential user of said physical fitness device acquired by said sensor, determine if said potential user is authorized to use said physical fitness device, and, if so, enable use of said physical fitness device.