Computerized Physical Activity System to Provide Feedback

• US 20070232455A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanoun, Reed
• Application Number:
  US11/737,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 : performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 : Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 : Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 : Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 : Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 : each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• 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 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 : within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A computerized physical activity system for use with exercise machines comprises a database, sensing systems, each coupled to a corresponding one of the exercise machines, and a computer and communication system coupled to the database and to the sensing systems. The database comprises information about people who will be using the system. A sensing system senses mechanical variables of activity of a person when exercising on the exercise machine. The computer and communication system is arranged to process mechanical properties of the exercise machine and the mechanical variables of the activity to generate user performance data for the activity, to analyze the data based, at least in part, on information stored in the database for the person, to provide feedback based on the data and/or the analysis thereof, and to update the information stored in the database for the person based on the analysis.

Claims

1. A computerized physical activity system for use with exercise machines, the system comprising:

a database comprising information about people who will be using the system;

sensing systems, each coupled to a corresponding one of the exercise machines, to sense mechanical variables of activities of a person when exercising on the exercise machines; and

a computer and communication system coupled to the database and to the sensing systems, wherein the computer and communication system is arranged

to process mechanical properties of the exercise machines and the mechanical variables of the activities to generate user performance data for each of the activities,

to perform an analysis of the user performance data based, at least in part, on information stored in the database for the person,

to provide feedback to the person when exercising on one of the exercise machines based on the user performance data and/or the analysis thereof for the activity of the person on the one of the exercise machines, and

to update the information stored in the database for the person based on the analysis so that subsequent analyses of user performance data for activities of the person are performed based, at least in part, on the updated information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user performance data for a particular one of the activities comprises one or more of the following:

energy exerted by the person while exercising on a particular one of the exercise machines,

range of motion of the particular one of the activities,

speed of one or more physical components of the particular one of the exercise machines during the particular one of the activities, and

acceleration of one or more physical components of the particular one of the exercise machines during the particular one of the activities.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exercise machines is of a different class than another of the exercise machines.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exercise machines is a cardio exercise machine.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exercise machines is a weight-stack exercise machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exercise machines is a spinning exercise machine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exercise machines is a hydraulic exercise machine.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

acquisition modules near or affixed to the exercise machines to acquire an identifier of the person.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a tag storing the identifier of the person,

wherein the acquisition modules are to acquire the identifier from the tag.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display coupled to the computer and communication system and which is viewable by the person when exercising on a particular one of the exercise machines, wherein the computer and communication system is arranged to show on the display visual feedback related to the user performance data for the activity of the person on the particular one of the exercise machines.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display coupled to the computer and communication system and which is viewable by the person when exercising on a particular one of the exercise machines, wherein the computer and communication system is arranged to show on the display visual feedback related to the analysis of the user performance data for the activity of the person on the particular one of the exercise machines.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display coupled to the computer and communication system and which is viewable by the person when exercising on a particular one of the exercise machines, wherein the computer and communication system is arranged to show on the display an indication of another of the exercise machines to which the person, after exercising on the particular one of the exercise machines, should proceed according to an exercise program for the person stored in the database.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer and communication system comprises:

electronic controllers, each coupled to a corresponding one of the exercise machines, which are arranged to handle at least a portion of the processing of the mechanical variables.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer and communication system comprises:

a computer system able to communicate with the database and able to communicate with the electronic controllers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer system is a centralized computer system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer system is a distributed computer system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the electronic controllers is able to receive from a heart rate monitor heart rate data of the person when exercising on the exercise machine that is coupled to the electronic controller, is able to process the heart rate data based on target heart rate zone information that is stored in the database for the person, and is able to show on a display viewable by the person a visual indication of a comparison of the person'"'"'s heart rate and the target heart rate zone.

18. A method for providing feedback to a person who is exercising, the method comprising:

sensing mechanical variables of activities of the person when exercising on exercise machines;

processing mechanical properties of the exercise machines and the mechanical variables of the activities to generate user performance data for each of the activities;

performing an analysis of the user performance data based, at least in part, on information stored in a database for the person;

providing feedback to the person when exercising on one of the exercise machines based on the user performance data and/or the analysis thereof for the activity of the person on the one of the exercise machines; and

updating the information stored in the database for the person based on the analysis so that subsequent analyses of user performance data for activities of the person are performed based, at least in part, on the updated information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user performance data comprises an exercise intensity, performing the analysis comprises performing a comparison of the exercise intensity and a target exercise intensity stored in the database for the person, and the feedback comprises an indication to increase, sustain or decrease the exercise intensity based on the comparison.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the feedback comprises:

displaying a first color if the indication is to increase the exercise intensity;

displaying a second color if the indication is to sustain the exercise intensity; and

displaying a third color if the indication is to decrease the exercise intensity.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving heart rate data of the person when exercising,

wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on the heart rate data.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on caloric intake information for the person.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on exercise targets for the person.