SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING EXERCISE EQUIPMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH A NETWORK

• US 20130123068A1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sultan Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Sultan Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Sultan, Tarik, Sultan, Omar
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0054 for charging a battery
• 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: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2291 User-Defined Types; Storage management thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling exercise by a user. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a communication unit, a user interface unit, and a processor. The processor may receive user identification data from the user via the user interface unit and retrieve data based on the user identification data from an electronic data store. The processor may use the data to generate an exercise routine and command signals may be sent to an exercise machine based on the generated exercise routine. The processor may receive exercise data from the exercise machine via the communication unit and store the exercise data in the electronic data store.

Claims

1. An apparatus to enable exercise by a user, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive and transmit data over a network;

a user interface unit configured to receive input from and present information to the user; and

a processor in communication with the communication unit and the user interface unit, the processor configured to;

receive, via the user interface unit, user identification data from the user, wherein the user identification data is transmitted by the communication unit to an electronic data store over the network;

receive, via the communication unit, user data from the electronic data store in response to transmission of the user identification data, wherein the user data comprises user health data and at least one application;

identify a first application selected by the user via the user interface unit;

generate an exercise routine based on execution of the first application;

generate command signals based on the generated exercise routine, wherein the command signals are transmitted to an exercise machine via the communication unit;

receive, via the communication unit, exercise data from the exercise machine in response to transmission of the command signals; and

transmit, via the communication unit, the exercise data in the electronic data store.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user data further comprises user entertainment data;

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to produce at least one of an audio or visual output for presentation by the user interface unit based on the user entertainment data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electronic data store comprises a first electronic data store configured to store user health data, a second electronic data store configured to store at least one application, and a third electronic data store configured to store user entertainment data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one application comprises at least one application acquired by the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a mobile device associated with the user or a network communication device associated with a location, the mobile device and the network communication device coupled to the exercise machine.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for causing a computer system to process computer-program code by performing functions of at least one of the processor, the communication unit, or the user interface unit of claim 1 when such computer program is executed on the computer system.

8. A system for enabling competitive exercising, comprising:

a server device configured to relay data over a network;

a first network device in communication with the server device via the network and configured to;

execute a competition program in response to a request by a first user;

identify a second user that the server device indicates is available and that is selected by the first user;

identify an application selected by the first user;

generate an exercise routine based on execution of the application;

transmit command signals to a first exercise machine;

receive first user exercise data from the first exercise machine;

transmit the first user exercise data to the server device;

receive second user exercise data from the server device; and

display the second user exercise data;

a second network device in communication with the server device via the network and configured to;

transmit data to the server device indicating that the second user is available;

receive the command signals from the first network device in response to a selection of the second user by the first user;

transmit the command signals to a second exercise machine;

receive the second user exercise data from the second exercise machine;

transmit the second user exercise data to the server device;

receive the first user exercise data from the server device; and

display the first user exercise data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second network device is further configured to accept a connection to the first network device in response to a selection of the second user by the first user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein first network device is further configured to:

identify a plurality of users that the server device indicates are available and that are selected by the first user, wherein the first network;

receive a plurality of user exercise data from the server device, wherein the plurality of user exercise data corresponds to the plurality of users; and

display the plurality of user exercise data.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first network device and the second network device are each configured to display the first user exercise data and the second user exercise data concurrently.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first network device is configured to receive the first user exercise data from the first exercise machine at a first time, and wherein the second network device is configured to receive the second user exercise data from the second exercise machine at a second time separate from the first time.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the generated exercise routine is further based on user health data of the first user obtained from an electronic data store.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for causing a computer system to process computer-program code by performing functions of at least one of the server device, the first network device, or the second network device of claim 8 when such program is executed on the computer system.

15. A system for providing charging power, comprising:

an exercise machine configured to generate power based on a use of the exercise machine by a user, wherein the exercise machine is further configured to;

track an amount of power generated by the exercise machine; and

transmit the power generated by the exercise machine to an energy storage device; and

an energy allocation controller in communication with the exercise machine, the energy allocation controller configured to;

receive a message from the exercise machine, wherein the message comprises an indication of the amount of power generated by the exercise machine and an identity of the user;

determine a percentage value associated with the user, wherein the percentage value is based on a percentage of a total amount of power stored in the energy storage device that is contributed by the exercise machine; and

transmit command signals to the energy storage device, wherein the command signals instruct the energy storage device to transmit a percentage of the total amount of power stored in the energy storage device to a charging station associated with the user, wherein the percentage of the total amount of power is based on the percentage value.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second exercise machine configured to generate power based on a use of the second exercise machine by a second user, wherein the second exercise machine is further configured to transmit a second message to the energy allocation controller, wherein the second message comprises an indication of an amount of power generated by the second exercise machine and an identity of the second user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy allocation controller is further configured to:

determine a second percentage value associated with the second user, wherein the second percentage value is based on a percentage of a total amount of power stored in the energy storage device that is contributed by the second exercise machine; and

transmit second command signals to the energy storage device, wherein the second command signals instruct the energy storage device to transmit a second percentage of the total amount of power stored in the energy storage device to a second charging station associated with the second user, wherein the second percentage of the total amount of power is based on the second percentage value.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the charging station is configured to charge a device associated with the user, and wherein the charging station is further configured to charge the device with power received from the energy storage device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the device comprises at least one of a vehicle or a mobile device.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for causing a computer system to process computer-program code by performing functions of at least one of the exercise machine or the energy allocation controller of claim 15 when such program is executed on the computer system.