Systems and methods for interaction with exercise device

• US 6,458,060 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Ashby, Darren C., Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/641,220
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 482/1-9, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• 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 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• 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 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 22/0048 with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• 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 22/201 for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 : Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/305 : Remote servicing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• 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 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• 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

An exercise device is configured to enable a user to interact with a trainer in real-time communication. The exercise device includes an exercise mechanism having a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a user. Communicating with the exercise mechanism is an interface adapted for gathering a first real-time signal from the user. The interface communicates with a communication system for receiving a packetized second real-time signal including a synchronized control signal from the trainer. The exercise device includes an output device configured to reproduce the second real-time signal. The control signals carried by the second signal are used to control the operating parameters of the exercise mechanism in real-time.

Claims

1. An exercise system for enabling one or more users to interact with one or more trainers, comprising:

(a) a user device having a movable element for movement in performance of an exercise by a user and at least one actuator for controlling one or more first operating parameters of the user device, the user device being adapted to receive packetized programming including at least one control signal representative of changes to be made to the one or more first operating parameters;

(b) a trainer device communicating with the user device, the trainer device having a movable element for movement in performance of an exercise by a trainer and being capable of scheduling the generation of the packetized programming that includes the at least one control signal representative of changes to be made to the one or more operating parameters of the user device that is based upon changes made to one or more second operating parameters of the trainer device; and

(c) a communication system, in communication with the user device and the trainer device, the communication system being configured to deliver the programming and the at least one control signal to the user device.

2. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication system is in real time communication with the user device and the trainer device, the communication system being configured to deliver the programming to the user device in real time.

3. An exercise system as recited in claim 2, wherein the user device further comprises one or more processors configured to control the one or more actuators in response to the one or more control signals.

4. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user device further comprises one or more processors configured to control the one or more actuators in response to one or more manual inputs by the user.

5. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user device further comprises one or more input devices capable of gathering one or more user inputs for delivery to the trainer device in real-time.

6. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user device further comprises one or more output devices capable of delivering the programming to the user in real-time.

7. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the trainer device generates the programming and the one or more control signals.

8. An exercise system a recited in claim 1, wherein the trainer device generates the programming and the one or more control signals in combination with the communication system.

9. An exercise system a recited in claim 1, wherein the communication system generates the programming and the one or more control signals in response to one or more signals received from the trainer device.

10. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication system generates the programming and the one or more control signals in response to one or more signals received from a third party.

11. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises:

(a) storage means for storing the programming;

(b) means for generating one or more control signals; and

(c) means for synchronizing and packetizing the controls signals with the programming and delivering the packetized control signal to the user device.

12. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises at least one interface device configured to enable the communication system to communicate with the user device and the trainer device.

13. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user device further comprises:

(a) means for decoding the control signals having an input and an output, the input of the decoding means being in communication with a control device; and

(b) means, electrically coupled to the output of the decoding means, for driving the one or more actuators in response to the decoded control signal.

14. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a microphone.

15. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises one or more processors.

16. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming and the one or more control signals are delivered to the user device by way of data transmission selected from the group consisting of wireless transmission, radio frequency transmission, satellite transmission, cable transmission, infra-red transmission, or DSL transmission.

17. An exercise master-slave system comprising:

(a) a master device comprising;

(i) an exercise mechanism comprising a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a user; and

(ii) at least one interface device communicating with the exercise mechanism, the at least one interface device being adapted for gathering one or more inputs, representative of changes in one or more operating parameters of the master device, from a user of the master device; and

(b) a slave device communicating with the master device, the slave device comprising;

(i) a slave exercise mechanism comprising a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a user of the slave device, the slave exercise mechanism having one or more operating parameters;

(ii) a communication mechanism configured to receive one or more control signals from the master device, the one or more control signals being based upon the one or more inputs received at the master device; and

(iii) a controller, responsive to the one or more control signals, configured to control the slave operating parameters of the slave exercise mechanism substantially as the one or more inputs are received by the master device.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the master device further comprises a communication mechanism configured to transmit the one or more control signals to the slave device.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the communication mechanism comprises a communication interface.

20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the master device and the slave device communication directly one with another.

21. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the master device and the slave device are both connected to a network.

22. A system a recited in claim 21, wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a local area network and a wide area network.

23. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein both the master device and the slave device communicate with a communication system.

24. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the master device receives one or more signals from the slave device.

25. A system as recited in claim 24, wherein the one or more signals represent any measurable parameter of one of:

(i) the user of the slave device;

or (ii) the slave device.

26. A system as recited in claim 24, wherein the master device generates the one or more control signals in response to the one or more signals from the slave device.

27. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the communication mechanism is configured to receive the one or more control signals from the master device in real time;

and the controller, responsive to the one or more control signals, is configured to control the operating parameters of the exercise mechanism in real time.

28. A method of operating an exercise device having one or more actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, the method comprising:

(a) the step of producing, at another exercise device, at least one control signal, based upon changes made to one or more operating parameters of the another exercise device, for controlling the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device;

(b) the step of transmitting the at least one control signal to the exercise device from the another exercise device at the location remote from the exercise device;

(c) the step of decoding the at least one control signal as the at least one control signal is received by the exercise device; and

(d) the step of adjusting the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device in response to the decoded control signals, thereby changing the one or more parameters of the exercise device substantially as the one or more operating parameters of the another exercise device are changed.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the producing step comprises:

(a) the step of transmitting a first real-time signal from the exercise device to a communication system at a location remote from the exercise device;

(b) the step of analyzing the first real-time signal;

(c) the step of preparing the programming in response to the first real-time signal.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising the step of transmitting the first signal to a trainer, the trainer being capable of analyzing the first signal and preparing the programming in response to the first signal.

31. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the step of preparing the programming comprises:

(a) the step of obtaining one or more audio signals and one or more video signals;

(b) the step of obtaining one or more control signals; and

(c) the step of synchronizing the one or more control signals with the one or more audio signals and the one or more video signals.

32. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the programming by way of a data transmission media selected from the group consisting of wireless transmission, radio frequency transmission, satellite transmission, cable transmission, infra-red transmission, or DSL transmission.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the step of transmitting the programming from a location remote from the exercise device occurs in real time.

34. An exercise system comprising:

(a) a master device comprising a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a master user and at least one processor adapted to generate a first control signal and a second control signal based upon one or more inputs received from the user of the master device as the user exercises using the movable element;

(b) a slave device comprising a slave movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a first slave user and a slave processor adapted to decode the first control signal and control movement of the slave movable element based upon the first control signal, thereby changing the exercise performed by the first slave user based upon the one or more inputs of the user exercising upon the movable element and as the user exercises upon the movable element of the master device; and

(c) a sub-slave device communicating with the slave device, the sub-slave device comprising a sub-slave movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a first sub-slave user and a sub-slave processor adapted to decode the second control signal received from the slave device and control movement of the sub-slave movable element based upon the second control signal, thereby changing the exercise performed by the first sub-slave user based upon the one or more inputs of the user exercising upon the movable element and as the user exercises upon the movable element of the master device.