Exercise system with graphical feedback and method of gauging fitness progress

• US 20060040793A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pantometrics Limited
• Original Assignee: Pantometrics Limited
• Inventors: Martens, Mark H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/20 blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 : for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 : Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A system and method for providing visual feedback to a user of an exercise machine for gauging fitness progress of the user. The system provides a user of an exercise machine with a virtual competition in which the user competes against virtual competitors based on his past performances or those of other users, either as an individual or as a member of a team. The team may also be part of a league. For an individual competing against his own past performance(s), the system may raise the level of performance required to win the virtual competition, and may also lower the level of performance required if the user is not performing well on a particular day. For an individual competing against others in either real-time or against designated results, either as part of a team or a league, the system may reduce the isolation, disconnection, and tedium often experienced by users of cardiovascular exercise equipment and provide a social outlet. The system attempts to keep the user engaged and motivated to achieve desired fitness goals by providing real-time performance data and historical performance data displayed in a graphical manner coupled with the entertainment and excitement of competition and social interaction.

Claims

1. A method for providing a visual gauge of fitness progress to a network of users of cardiovascular exercise machines, said method comprising:

receiving instantaneous sensed data during a workout, the instantaneous data sensed by one or more sensors and representative of at least one workout parameter of a first user;

storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in a database having an identifier corresponding to each user;

receiving stored historical data from one or more previous workouts, the historical data representative of the workout parameter of the first user and a second user as a function of time, said historical data retrieved with user identifiers corresponding to each of the first and second user and with permission of the second user;

providing the first and second users with a means to communicate with each other during the workout; and

displaying a graphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with the historical data on a display so the progress toward a desired fitness level can be gauged.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrently with the instantaneous data of the first user when the first and second users are engaged in a virtual competition, wherein the network of users are screened into pools for the purpose of virtual competition by a category chosen from the group consisting of ability, machine type, distance, time, age, sex, and health club.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the results of the virtual competition in the database and reporting the results upon request by a user or an administrator of the virtual competition.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a virtual competition between two or more teams of users from selected from the categorized pools using instantaneous data, wherein team competition results are stored in the database and reported upon request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the teams of users are selected from the categorized pools using historical data of the users.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing the capability for individuals or teams of users to compete in leagues, wherein the means of administering the leagues will be provided and results stored in the database and reported upon request by a user.

7. A system for providing a visual gauge of fitness level progress to a user of a cardiovascular exercise machine, said system comprising:

at least one sensor to sense an instantaneous value of at least one workout parameter;

first means for storing historical data from at least one previous workout of a first user in a database, said historical data representative of said at least one workout parameter as a function of time;

second means for storing instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in the database;

a processor responsive to the instantaneous sensed data and the historical data for rendering a real-time graphical representation;

communication means for requesting the historical data and instantaneous data of a second user from the database, said request including identifiers corresponding to each of the second user and the first user, said identifiers used to access a permissions table to verify whether the second user has given permission for the first user to receive the requested historical data and instantaneous data of the second user; and

a display device to display the rendered real-time graphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with the historical data so the progress toward a desired fitness level can be gauged.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising the simultaneous display of graphical representations of instantaneous data from the first and second users.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for the first and second users to be categorized into a pool of virtual competitors for the purpose of a virtual competition.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second users self-select a categorized pool.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second users are automatically selected for a categorized pool for the purpose of virtual competition by a category chosen from the group consisting of ability, machine type, distance, time, age, sex, and health club.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising means to store results of the virtual competition in the database and means to provide reports of the results.

13. The system of claim 7 comprising the means for users to communicate and interact with each other.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for categorized pools of users to form teams to compete against other teams.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a display of graphical representation of instantaneous data from team members and opponents during a virtual competition, wherein the race results are stored in the database and reported upon request.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a graphical representation of historical data designated by teams of users to be used during a race against opponents, wherein the race results are stored in the database and reported upon request by a user.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for teams of categorized pools of users to form leagues wherein the system is operable to allow the teams to compete against each other, wherein league results will be stored in the database and reported upon user request.

18. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a visual gauge of fitness progress to a network of users of cardiovascular exercise machines comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

receiving instantaneous sensed data during a workout, the instantaneous data sensed by one or more sensors and representative of at least one workout parameter of a first user;

storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in a database having an identifier corresponding to each user;

receiving stored historical data from one or more previous workouts, the historical data representative of the workout parameter of the first user and a second user as a function of time, said historical data retrieved with user identifiers corresponding to each of the first and second user and with permission of the second user; and

providing the first and second users with a means to communicate with each other during the workout; and

displaying a graphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with the historical data on a display so the progress toward a desired fitness level can be gauged, wherein the computer provide a visual gauge of fitness progress to a network of users of cardiovascular exercise machines.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the predetermined operations further include the step of:

receiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrently with the instantaneous data of the first user when the first and second users are engaged in a virtual competition, wherein the network of users are screened into pools for the purpose of virtual competition by a category chosen from the group consisting of ability, machine type, distance, time, age, sex, and health club.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the predetermined operations further include the step of:

providing a third user with remote access to the stored historical data of the first user when the third user identifies the first user, requests to access to the historical data of the first user, and the first user grants the request to access the historical data of the first user.