EXERCISE SYSTEM

• US 20150238817A1
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Ashby, Darren C., Watterson, Scott R.
• Application Number:
  US14/709,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0476 by rotating cycling movement arrangements on or for real bicycles A63B69/16
• 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 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Exercise system. In one example embodiment, an exercise system may include a sensing device, a portable control device, and a remote server. The sensing device may include a first sensor configured to detect exercise data of exercise performed by a user, a first data storage configured to store the exercise data, a first radio frequency (RF) wireless interface, and a first processor. The portable control device may include a second RF wireless interface, a second data storage, and a second processor. The remote server may include a third interface, a third data storage, and a third processor.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

a sensing device including;

a first sensor configured to detect exercise data of exercise performed by a user;

a first data storage configured to store the exercise data;

a first radio frequency (RF) wireless interface; and

a first processor configured to retrieve the exercise data from the first data storage and send the exercise data over the first RF wireless interface;

a portable control device including;

a second RF wireless interface configured to receive the exercise data from the first RF wireless interface;

a second data storage; and

a second processor configured to store the exercise data in the second data storage, the second processor further configured to retrieve the exercise data from the second data storage and send the exercise data through the Internet; and

a remote server including;

a third interface configured to receive the exercise data through the Internet from the portable control device;

a third data storage; and

a third processor configured to store the exercise data in the third data storage, the third processor further configured to analyze the exercise data and display an analysis of the exercise data on a website that is accessible to the user through the Internet.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the first RF wireless interface is configured to communicate using Bluetooth protocol; and

the second RF wireless interface is configured to communicate using Bluetooth protocol.

3. The exercise system of claim 2, wherein:

the portable control device is a mobile telephone;

the mobile telephone further includes an integral electronic display configured to display the exercise data;

the integral electronic display is both an output device and a touch-sensitive input device that is configured to present one or more touch-sensitive buttons;

the mobile telephone further includes an accelerometer that is configured to detect acceleration data of the exercise performed by user and add the acceleration data to the exercise data that is stored in the second data storage; and

the second RF wireless interface is further configured to communicate the exercise data to the third interface of the remote server through the Internet using IP communication protocol.

4. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the exercise system further comprises a user module including a data storage module and an interface module;

the interface module is configured to communicate with the portable control device to receive the exercise data from the portable control device;

the data storage module is configured to store the exercise data; and

the interface module is further configured to send the exercise data through the Internet to the third interface of the remote server.

5. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein:

the portable control device includes a universal serial bus (USB) port configured to allow uploading of the exercise data to the remote server through the user module.

6. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein:

the exercise system further comprises a cradle that includes first electrical contacts;

the portable control device includes second electrical contacts configured to physically mate with the first electrical contacts of the cradle; and

the cradle is configured to allow uploading of the exercise data to the remote server through the user module.

7. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein:

the exercise system further comprises a cradle that includes a first infrared (IR) wireless interface;

the portable control device includes a second IR wireless interface configured to send the exercise data to the first IR wireless interface of the cradle; and

the cradle is configured to allow uploading of the exercise data to the remote server through the user module.

8. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the exercise performed by the user is a cycling exercise; and

the exercise system further comprises a second sensing device configured to be coupled to a cycle of the user, the second sensing device including;

a second sensor configured to detect, simultaneously with the detecting performed by the first sensor, a cycle parameter of the cycle of the user during performance of the cycling exercise by the user;

a fourth data storage configured to store the cycle parameter;

a fourth radio frequency (RF) wireless interface; and

a fourth processor configured to retrieve the cycle parameter from the fourth data storage and send the cycle parameter over the fourth RF wireless interface to the second RF wireless of the portable control device; and

the second processor of the portable control device is configured to receive the cycle parameter at the second RF wireless interface and add the cycle parameter to the exercise data that is stored in the second data storage.

9. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the website is configured to enable the user to communicate word-based conversations directly to other users of other portable control devices in real-time via the website.

10. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the website is configured to enable the user to access and change information that was previously stored in the third data storage of the remote server.

11. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the website is configured to enable the user to generate login information and to enter the user-generated login information into the website.

12. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the website is configured to enable the user to interact directly with a human personal trainer via the website.

13. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the website is configured to enable the user to store and view a calendar of upcoming exercise sessions; and

the website is configured to enable the user to store and view fitness goals of the user.

14. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable control device further includes an integral electronic display that is configured to display the exercise data and that is configured to function as a virtual reality display.

15. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable control device further includes an integral electronic display configured to display the exercise data; and

the integral electronic display is both an output device and a touch-sensitive input device that is configured to present one or more touch-sensitive buttons.

16. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable control device further includes an audio input device including a microphone configured to gather audio inputs from the user using a voice activated controller.

17. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the second processor is configured to retrieve the exercise data from the second data storage and send the exercise data over the second RF wireless interface.

18. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable control device further includes an integral speaker;

the portable control device further includes a microphone configured to gather audio inputs from the user using a voice activated controller; and

the second RF wireless interface of the portable control device is configured to send the gathered audio inputs over a radio frequency to other RF wireless interfaces of other portable control devices, and configured to receive audio outputs over the radio frequency from the other RF wireless interfaces and present the received audio outputs to the user on the integral speaker.

19. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable control device further includes an accelerometer that is configured to detect acceleration data of the exercise performed by the user and add the acceleration data to the exercise data that is stored in the second data storage.

20. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein:

the third data storage of the remote server is configured to store an exercise program;

the third processor of the remote server is further configured to retrieve, from the third data storage, the exercise program and send, over the third interface and through the Internet, the exercise program to the portable control device; and

the portable control device is configured to use the exercise program to control a stationary exercise machine that is local to the portable control device.