Virtual personal training device

• US 20070225118A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ralph J. Del Giorno
• Original Assignee: Ralph J. Del Giorno
• Inventors: Giorno, Ralph J. Del
• Application Number:
  US11/515,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• 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 23/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body A63B22/00 takes precedence; force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00; devices for exercising or strengthening of fingers, or arms in teaching operation of keyboards G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A virtual trainer exercise system including at least one exercise equipment device including a video user interface, an audio input, an audio output, and a data port for receiving a portable storage device, a server in communication with the exercise equipment device, a database in communication with the server, the database including one or more user profiles, software executing on the exercise equipment device for receiving user data from the portable storage device, software executing on the server for accessing a user profile corresponding to the user data, and software executing on the server for generating an interactive virtual trainer based on the user profile and providing the interactive virtual trainer to the user via the user interface and audio output.

Claims

1. A virtual trainer exercise system comprising:

at least one exercise equipment device including a video user interface, an audio input, an audio output, and a data port for receiving a portable storage device;

a server in communication with said exercise equipment device;

a database in communication with said server, said database including one or more user profiles;

software executing on said exercise equipment device for receiving user data from the portable storage device;

software executing on said server for accessing a user profile corresponding to the user data; and

software executing on said server for generating an interactive virtual trainer based on the user profile and providing the interactive virtual trainer to the user via the user interface and audio output.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said virtual trainer is an animated human form.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more user profiles includes virtual trainer parameters and workout parameters.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the workout parameters include at least one of a level, a speed, a resistance, and a time.

5. The system according to claim 3, further comprising:

software executing on said exercise equipment device for implementing a workout routine based on the workout parameters.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising:

speech recognition software executing on said server for interpreting a speech input received via the audio input.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising:

software executing on said exercise equipment device for revising the workout routine based on the interpreted speech input.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the video user interface is a touch-screen video user interface, wherein the system further comprises software executing on said exercise equipment device for revising the workout routine based on a user input received via the video user interface.

9. The system according to claim 3, further comprising:

software executing on said server for updating the one or more user profiles and customizing the virtual trainer parameters.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said software for updating provides for the customization of the interactive virtual trainer'"'"'s clothing and dialect.

11. The system according to claim 5, wherein providing the interactive virtual trainer includes providing visual and audio feedback pertaining to the workout routine.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

software executing on said server for receiving performance data from the exercise equipment device, the performance data indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the workout routine,

wherein the feedback is based on the performance data.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said exercise equipment device is a cardiovascular training device.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said exercise equipment device is a hydraulic weight training device, wherein said exercise equipment devices includes one or more sensors for determining when user requires assistance and an emergency off switch.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said audio input includes a wireless audio input and a wireless headset for providing speech input to the wireless audio input.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data port is a USB port.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

software executing on said server for providing an interactive website for displaying at least a portion of the user profiles.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the interactive website includes one or more fitness chat rooms.

19. A method of providing a user with a virtual trainer in situ on exercise equipment, comprising the steps of:

receiving user data to the exercise equipment from a portable memory device;

accessing a user profile corresponding to the user data, the user profile stored remote to the exercise equipment;

generating interactive virtual trainer based on at least a portion of the user profile;

providing the interactive virtual trainer via a video display and audio output of the exercise equipment; and

implementing a workout routine in the exercise equipment based on at least a portion of the user profile.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving speech input from the user; and

providing a response to the speech input via the interactive virtual trainer.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a workout history in the user profile; and

adjusting the workout routine based on the workout history.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of implementing the workout routine includes prompting user for approval and input.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

receiving workout results from the exercise equipment; and

storing the workout results in the user profile.

24. A method of generating an interactive virtual trainer and workout regiment for use in situ on exercise equipment, comprising the steps of:

accessing a server via the Internet;

creating a username and a password;

entering one or more personal data elements corresponding to the user for storage in a user profile;

selecting a customizable virtual trainer for storage in the user profile;

selecting trainer attributes indicative of at least one of an appearance and a behavior of the virtual trainer;

providing one or more workout parameters; and

receiving a workout routine based on the one or more workout parameters.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

downloading at least a portion of a user profile data to a portable storage device for communication to the exercise equipment.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the personal data elements include at least one of a gender, an age, a weight, and a height.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting trainer attributes includes choosing a gender, attire, and an intensity level.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the workout parameters include at least one of an exercise equipment device, a level, an intensity, and a duration.