Computer exercise system

• US 6,475,115 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konan Yao, Thomas Candito
• Original Assignee: Konan Yao, Thomas Candito
• Inventors: Yao, Konan, Candito, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/697,834
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/57, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/4
• 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 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0055 the produced electric power used as a source for other equipment, e.g. for TVs
• 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 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• 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 2225/72 Means preventing unauthorised use, e.g. by lowering a tennis net
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A computer exercise system for requiring a user to exercise prior to being granted access to use a computer. The computer exercise system includes a computer having a processor, an exercise device and a scanner connected between the computer and exercise device. The sensor detects use of the exercise device and, upon detecting such use, transmits a signal to the processor. The processor prevents access to the computer until the signal indicating use of the exercise device is received from the scanner for a predetermined period of time. The computer further includes a monitor connected to the processor for displaying an image indicating a period of time for which the signal must be received by the processor from the scanner in order to be granted access to the computer. The processor includes a memory for storing account information for a plurality of individual users, each individual user being assigned an account and each account being assigned a unique user I.D. and password. A keyboard is provided for entering information to access a desired one of the accounts. Each individual account also includes a predetermined exercise time during which a respective user must exercise prior to being granted access to the computer. The sensor may transmit the signal to the processor either through a cable wire or wirelessly.

Claims

1. A computer exercise system for requiring a user to exercise prior to being granted access to use a computer, said computer exercise system comprising:

a) a computer including a processor and a monitor;

b) an exercise device;

c) a sensor connected between said computer and exercise device for detecting use of said exercise device and, upon detecting of use of said exercise device, transmitting a signal to said processor indicating such use, wherein said processor prevents access to said computer until the signal is received from said sensor for a predetermined period of time;

d) said monitor displaying an image indicating a period of time remaining in the use of said exercise device in order to be granted access to said computer while a user is using said exercise device;

e) means comprising a keyboard for inputting to said processor a user I.D. and password, said processor having a memory in which is stored a time required for the user to spend operating said exercise machine in order to obtain access to said computer.

2. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer further includes a monitor connected to said processor for displaying an image indicating a period of time for which the signal must be received by said processor from said scanner in order to be granted access to said computer.

3. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory stores account information for a plurality of individual users, wherein each individual user is assigned an account and each account is assigned a unique user I.D. and password.

4. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 3, wherein each individual account includes a predetermined exercise time during which a respective user must exercise prior to being granted access to said computer.

5. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor includes a transmitter and said computer further includes a receiver connected to said processor, said sensor wirelessly transmitting the signal indicating said exercise device is in use to said receiver for processing by said processor.

6. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said exercise device is a stationary bicycle.

7. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said exercise device is one of a stationary bicycle, a treadmill, a life cycle, a stair climbing machine or any cardiovascular device.

8. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connection cable connecting said sensor to said processor for transmitting the signal indicating said exercise device is in use from said sensor to said processor.

9. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a physical conditioning monitor connected to said exercise device for monitoring a physical condition of the user while exercising.

10. The computer exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user is able to perform functions including calculations, printing, charting, graphing, generating schedules, cross-referencing results of previous workouts upon being granted access to said computer.

11. A method of providing restricted access to a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a sensor for detecting use to an exercise device;

b) accessing a computer by inputting a user I.D. and password;

c) said computer setting a predetermined exercise time for a user prior to granting access to the computer system and displaying said exercise time on a monitor;

d) detecting use of the exercise device by the sensor;

e) transmitting a signal indicative of the use of the exercise device by the sensor to the processor;

f) monitoring for receipt of the signal from the sensor by the computer during the predetermined time period and displaying on said monitor time remaining before access to the computer can be granted while a user is using said exercise device;

g) granting access to the computer system upon expiration of the predetermined time period upon determining by the processor that the signal has been received from the sensor throughout the predetermined time period;

h) storing in said computer multiple registered users'"'"' I.D.'"'"'s and passwords so that any registered user can obtain use of the computer after a preselected time of use of said exercise machine as stored in said computer; and

i) said registered user accessing said computer for use of said computer for a time dependent on the amount of time the user exercised.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the signal is transmitted by the sensor to the computer through a cable wire.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the signal is wirelessly transmitted by the sensor to the computer.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the user I.D. and password are input using a keyboard connected to the computer.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor displays an amount of time remaining during the predetermined time period on a monitor.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the exercise device is a stationary bicycle and the sensor senses rotation of the wheel of the stationary bicycle to determine the stationary bicycle is in use.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a timer is connected to the processor and the timer is activated by the processor to count for the predetermined time period.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a processor in said computer prevents access to the computer system upon an interruption in receipt of the signal from the sensor during the predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of measuring a physical characteristic of user during exercising.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of transmitting a signal indicative of the measured physical characteristic to the computer for analysis of a physical condition of the user.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time period for use of the computer after completion of the predetermined exercise time.