USER STATUS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20110183813A1
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peloton Interactive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barker, Robert James, Birrell, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 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 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• 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

Abstract

A user status notification system and method indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.

Claims

1. A user status notification system comprising:

a fitness equipment unit;

an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; and

a notifier supported by the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.

2. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the status information is unrelated to the fitness equipment unit being used or an exerciser routine being performed on the fitness equipment unit by the user.

3. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the status information indicates an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club.

4. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the status information indicates the user'"'"'s attendance at a fitness club.

5. The notification system of claim 1, where the status information relates to the user'"'"'s familiarity with the fitness equipment unit.

6. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the fitness equivalent unit includes a display screen and wherein the notifier comprises a background color presented on the display screen.

7. The notification system of claim 8, wherein the status information relates to an exertion level of the user on the fitness equipment unit during exercise.

8. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the notifier comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

9. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit includes a display screen and wherein the notifier comprises a dedicated area of the screen having iconographic images or symbols providing information on or related to the fitness equipment unit being used or an exercise routine being performed on the fitness equipment unit by the user.

10. The notification system of claim 1 further comprising a centralized computer containing attendance data and in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifier is actuated based upon attendance data received from the centralized computer.

11. The notification system of claim 1 further comprising a centralized computer containing club membership data and in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifier is actuated based upon club membership data received from the centralized computer.

12. The notification system of claim 1 further comprising:

a computer;

a key receiving user status information from the computer, wherein the key transfers the user status information to the fitness equipment unit upon initiation of use of the fitness equipment unit by the user.

13. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the notifier emits wireless human imperceptible signals including the status information and wherein the system further comprises a portable handheld notification receiver configured to receive the signals and convert the imperceptible signals to a human perceptible signals.

14. The notification system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of notifiers, each notifier being actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit a different type of status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.

15. A method comprising:

receiving identification of a human user at a fitness equipment unit; and

notifying non-users proximate to the fitness equipment unit a status of the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the status includes status information unrelated to the fitness equipment unit being used or an exerciser team being performed on the fitness equipment unit by the user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the status includes status information indicating an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the status includes status information indicating the user'"'"'s attendance at a fitness club.

19. The method of claim 15, where the status includes status information relating to the user'"'"'s familiarity with the fitness equipment unit.

20. The method of claim 15, the notifying comprises changing a background color presented on a display screen of the fitness equipment unit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the status includes status information relating to an exertion level of the user on the fitness equipment unit during exercise.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the notifying comprises illuminating one or more visual display technologies.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the notifying consists of information unrelated to the fitness equipment unit being used or an exercise routine being performed on the fitness equipment unit by the user and is provided using a dedicated area of the display screen of the fitness equipment unit.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving attendance data from a computer in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifying of the status of the user is based upon attendance data pertaining to the user received from the computer.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving club membership data from a computer in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifying of the status of the user is based upon club membership data pertaining to the user received from the computer.

26. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

transmitting user status information to a key from a device remote from the fitness equipment unit; and

transferring the user status information to the fitness equipment unit upon initiation of use of the fitness equipment unit by the user, wherein the notifying is based upon the user status information.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein the notifying comprises:

emitting wireless human imperceptible signals including the status of the user;

providing human perceptible signals based upon the imperceptible signals at a portable handheld notification receiver.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising converting the human imperceptible signals at the portable handheld notification receiver to the human perceptible signals.