Interactive programmable fitness interface system

• US 6,527,674 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Cone
• Original Assignee: Conetex, Inc.
• Inventors: Clem, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/590,079
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/57, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A personalized training system, and a method of fitness training, are disclosed. The personalized training system includes a fitness device, into which a user enters a first plurality of user information, including a choice of an automated interactive learned program mode or an automated fitness test mode, an automated control location that receives the first plurality of user information, and a second plurality of user information during each use of the fitness device by the user, a performance assessor that assesses a performance of the user during each use of a plurality of uses based on a comparison of the second plurality of user information to the first plurality, a performance database incrementally formed by at least the plurality of performance assessments, and a fitness comparator that adjusts the use based on a comparison of the performance database to the second plurality. The method includes entering by a user a first plurality of user information, including a choosing of an automated interactive learned program mode or an automated fitness test mode, providing an automated control location, receiving the first plurality of user information at the automated control location, monitoring a second plurality of user information during each use of the fitness device by the user, performing an assessment of a performance of said user during each use of a plurality of uses, based on a comparing of the second plurality of user information to the first plurality, incrementally generating, over the plurality of uses, a performance database, and adjusting the use based on a comparing of the performance database to the second plurality.

Claims

1. A personalized training system, comprising:

a fitness device, wherein a user enters, at the fitness device and before a use of the fitness device by the user, a first plurality of user information, which first plurality includes a choice of an automated interactive learned program mode or an automated fitness test mode;

an automated control location that is remotely connected to the fitness device through a communicative connection, which automated control location receives the first plurality of user information, and a second plurality of user information during each use of the fitness device by the user;

a performance assessor resident at said automated control location, which performance assessor assesses a performance of said user during each use of a plurality of uses, based on a comparison of the second plurality of user information to the first plurality;

a performance database incrementally formed by at least the plurality of performance assessments, resident at said automated control location; and

a fitness comparator that adjusts the use based on a comparison of said performance database to the second plurality.

2. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein said performance database is accessible to the user at the fitness device during each use.

3. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein said performance database is generated over a fixed number of uses.

4. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality includes at least two goals and at least one parameter.

5. The personalized training system of claim 4, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of age, weight, sex, height, and medical conditions.

6. The personalized training system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of performance assessment include a calculation of an energy expenditure necessary to reach at least one of the goals.

7. The personalized training system of claim 6, wherein the calculation further includes dividing the necessary energy expenditure by an expected time length of the use, thereby generating a percentage of goal reached.

8. The personalized training system of claim 7, wherein a new suggested goal is formulated by said automated control location and downloaded to the fitness device for review by the user if the percentage of goal reached meets a predetermined low at the automated control location.

9. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality is collected by at least one sensor communicatively connected to the fitness device.

10. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality includes at least two information items selected from the group consisting of heart rate, calorie burn rate, and resistance of the fitness device.

11. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality is uploaded to said automated control location from the fitness device in a time frame selected from the group consisting of realtime and after each use.

12. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the automated fitness test mode is performed by the fitness device.

13. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the automated fitness test mode is performed by said automated control location.

14. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the automated fitness test mode comprises:

a comparison of the second plurality to an industry standard database; and

a recording of the comparison.

15. The personalized training system of claim 14, wherein the automated fitness test mode is recorded to an automated fitness test database, which automated fitness test database is accessible to the user.

16. The personalized training system of claim 14, wherein the automated fitness test mode is uploaded to the automated control location from the fitness device in a time frame selected from the group consisting of realtime and after each use.

17. The personalized training system of claim 1, further comprising software resident at said automated control location that performs the plurality of performance assessment.

18. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment comprises increasing or decreasing a difficulty level of the use.

19. The personalized training system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment comprises varying an environmental factor.

20. The personalized training system of claim 19, wherein the environmental factor is at least one selected from the group consisting of music and temperature.

21. The personalized training system of claim 1, further comprising a fitness coach that provides interactive information and suggested difficulties of use to the user, wherein the interactive information and the suggested difficulties are based on an comparison by said automated control location of the first plurality, the second plurality, and the performance database.

22. The personalized training system of claim 21, wherein the interactive information comprises an audible comparison of a current and at least one prior use.

23. The personalized training system of claim 21, wherein the suggested difficulties comprise an automated estimation based on a current use and at least one prior use.