Monitoring fitness activity across diverse exercise machines utilizing a universally accessible server system

• US 6,601,016 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, TUNG S
• Application Number:
  US09/561,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 272/93,118,134 482/9,7,57,8,5,92 221/211 364/900,942 116/55 343/357
• US Class Current: 702/182
• 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 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

According to the present invention, current fitness indicators for a particular user are detected by a particular exercise machine monitoring device that monitors exercise performed by the particular user on a particular exercise machine. The current fitness indicators are transmitted in a particular transmittable data format to a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with the particular user and stored at said universally accessible server system in accordance with the universal identifier as current fitness activity, such that real-time fitness activity for a user computed from fitness activity received from any of multiple diverse exercise machines over a period of time is monitored by a universally accessible server system according to a universal identifier for a particular user.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user from a particular exercise machine in a particular mark-up language format at a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user, and

storing said at least one type of exercise indicator signal as current fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system wherein said at least one type of exercise indicator signal is stored in association with said universal identifier to identify said current fitness activity for said particular user, such that a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user monitors the real-time fitness activity of said particular user from said at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine.

2. The method for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser according to claim 1, said step of receiving at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by said particular user from a particular exercise machine from among a plurality of accessible exercise machines in a particular transmittable data format, further comprising the step of:

receiving said at least one type of exercise indicator signal in an extensible mark-up language format.

3. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

computing said current fitness activity according to said at least one type of exercise indicator signal and a profile of said particular user at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

4. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

computing cumulative fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system from said current fitness activity and from previously computed fitness activity for said particular user computed and stored during a particular period of time as a result of exercise at any of said plurality of diverse exercise machines.

5. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

transmitting a control signal from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format for temporarily controlling said particular exercise machine while in use by said particular user.

6. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

transmitting personal data and a program selection for said particular user from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format, in order to initialize an at-machine monitor for use by said particular user.

7. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 6, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a machine type indicator from said particular exercise machine at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier;

searching a plurality of designated program selections according to said machine type indicator; and

transmitting a particular program selection from among said plurality of designated program selections, wherein said particular program selection is designated for automatic transmission to said particular exercise machine when said machine type indicator for said particular exercise machine is received.

8. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 6, said method further comprising the steps of:

detecting an exercise event for said particular user for said particular exercise machine in an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier; and

transmitting said program selection according to said exercise event.

9. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

accessing a graphical output application from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier at said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

10. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

accessing a graphical output application from an alternate universally accessible server system in accordance with an alternate universal identifier to said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

11. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

allowing access to said stored current fitness activity for said particular user by an alternate user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

12. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

receiving payment for any access to said current fitness activity for said particular user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier by said alternate user.

13. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

accessing stored current fitness activity of an alternate user from an alternate universally accessible server system according to an alternate universal identifier associated with said alternate user at said particular exercise machine in use by said particular user.

14. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a request for a reservation for a particular exercise machine for a particular time period from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to a reservation server for a plurality of exercise machines; and

adding an exercise event for said reservation to an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier, in response to receiving a reservation verification at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

15. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

debiting an account at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier according to usage of said particular exercise machine.

16. The method for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

accessing a description of each of a plurality of exercise machines that are accessible to said user at said universally accessible server system according to said universal identifier.

17. A system for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser, said system comprising:

means for receiving at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user from a particular exercise machine from among a plurality of accessible exercise machines in a particular mark-up language format at a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user; and

means for storing said at least one type of exercise indicator signal as current fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system wherein said at least one type of exercise indicator signal is stored in association with said universal identifier to identify said current fitness activity for said particular user, such that a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user monitors the real-time fitness activity of said particular user from said at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine.

18. The system for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser according to claim 17, said means for receiving at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by said particular user from a particular exercise machine from among a plurality of accessible exercise machines in a particular transmittable data format, further comprising:

means for receiving said at least one type of exercise indicator signal in an extensible mark-up language format.

19. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for computing said current fitness activity according to said at least one type of exercise indicator signal and a profile of said particular user at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

20. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for computing cumulative fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system from said current fitness activity and from previously computed fitness activity for said particular user computed and stored during a particular period of time as a result of exercise at any of said plurality of diverse exercise machines.

21. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for transmitting a control signal from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format for temporarily controlling said particular exercise machine while in use by said particular user.

22. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for transmitting personal data and a program selection for said particular user from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format, in order to initialize an at-machine monitor for use by said particular user.

23. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 22, said system further comprising:

means for receiving a machine type indicator from said particular exercise machine at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier;

means for searching a plurality of designated program selections according to said machine type indicator; and

means for transmitting a particular program selection from among said plurality of designated program selections, wherein said particular program selection is designated for automatic transmission to said particular exercise machine when said machine type indicator for said particular exercise machine is received.

24. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 22, said system further comprising:

means for detecting an exercise event for said particular user for said particular exercise machine in an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier; and

means for transmitting said program selection according to said exercise event.

25. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for accessing a graphical output application from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier at said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

26. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for accessing a graphical output application from an alternate universally accessible server system in accordance with an alternate universal identifier to said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

27. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for accessing a description of each of a plurality of exercise machines that are accessible to said user at said universally accessible server system according to said universal identifier.

28. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for allowing access to said stored current fitness activity for said particular user by an alternate user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

29. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for receiving payment for any access to said current fitness activity for said particular user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier by said alternate user.

30. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for accessing stored current fitness activity of an alternate user from an alternate universally accessible server system according to an alternate universal identifier associated with said alternate user at said particular exercise machine in use by said particular user.

31. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for transmitting a request for a reservation for a particular exercise machine for a particular time period from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to a reservation server for a plurality of exercise machines; and

means for adding an exercise event for said reservation to an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier, in response to receiving a reservation verification at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

32. The system for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 17, said system further comprising:

means for debiting an account at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier according to usage of said particular exercise machine.

33. A program for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser, said program comprising:

means for receiving at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user from a particular exercise machine from among a plurality of accessible exercise machines in a particular mark-up language format at a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user; and

means for storing said at least one type of exercise indicator signal as current fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system wherein said at least one type of exercise indicator signal is stored in association with said universal identifier to identify said current fitness activity for said particular user, such that a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with said particular user monitors the real-time fitness activity of said particular user from said at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine.

34. The program for monitoring the fitness activity of an exerciser according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for receiving said at least one type of exercise indicator signal in an extensible mark-up language format.

35. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for computing said current fitness activity according to said at least one type of exercise indicator signal and a profile of said particular user at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

36. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for computing cumulative fitness activity for said particular user at said universally accessible server system from said current fitness activity and from previously computed fitness activity for said particular user computed and stored during a particular period of time as a result of exercise at any of said plurality of diverse exercise machines.

37. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for transmitting a control signal from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format for temporarily controlling said particular exercise machine while in use by said particular user.

38. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for transmitting personal data and a program selection for said particular user from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to said particular exercise machine in said common transmittable data format, in order to initialize an at-machine monitor for use by said particular user.

39. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 38, said program further comprising:

means for receiving a machine type indicator from said particular exercise machine at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier;

means for searching a plurality of designated program selections according to said machine type indicator; and

means for transmitting a particular program selection from among said plurality of designated program selections, wherein said particular program selection is designated for automatic transmission to said particular exercise machine when said machine type indicator for said particular exercise machine is received.

40. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 38, said program further comprising:

means for detecting an exercise event for said particular user for said particular exercise machine in an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier; and

means for transmitting said program selection according to said exercise event.

41. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for accessing a graphical output application from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier at said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

42. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for accessing a graphical output application from an alternate universally accessible server system in accordance with an alternate universal identifier to said particular exercise machine monitor, wherein output from said particular exercise machine monitor is controlled according to said graphical output application.

43. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for accessing a description of each of a plurality of exercise machines that are accessible to said user at said universally accessible server system according to said universal identifier.

44. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for allowing access to said stored current fitness activity for said particular user by an alternate user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

45. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for receiving payment for any access to said current fitness activity for said particular user via said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier by said alternate user.

46. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for accessing stored current fitness activity of an alternate user from an alternate universally accessible server system according to an alternate universal identifier associated with said alternate user at said particular exercise machine in use by said particular user.

47. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for transmitting a request for a reservation for a particular exercise machine for a particular time period from said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier to a reservation server for a plurality of exercise machines; and

means for adding an exercise event for said reservation to an electronic schedule at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier, in response to receiving a reservation verification at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier.

48. The program for monitoring fitness activity from an exercise machine according to claim 33, said program further comprising:

means for debiting an account at said universally accessible server system in accordance with said universal identifier according to usage of said particular exercise machine.

49. A method for competing against a plurality of exercisers, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving current fitness activity for a first exerciser exercising on a first exercise machine in a particular mark-up language format at an exercise machine monitor for monitoring exercise performed by a second exerciser on a second exercise machine, wherein said current fitness activity is received at said exercise machine monitor from a universally accessible server system, wherein said current fitness activity for a first exerciser is identified by a universal identifier associated with said first exerciser; and

displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser with current fitness activity for said second exerciser from an output interface controlled by said exercise machine monitor, such that said second exerciser is enabled compete against a plurality of exercisers.

50. The method for competing against a plurality of exercisers according to claim 49, said method further comprising the step of:

accessing current fitness activity data for a plurality of exercisers at said exercise machine monitor from a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with a group comprising said plurality of exercisers.

51. The method for competing against a plurality of exercisers according to claim 49, said method further comprising the step of:

receiving a graphical output application for displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity from an alternate universally accessible server system in accordance with an alternate universal identifier associated with an application provider.

52. The method for competing against a plurality of exercisers according to claim 49, said step of displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser with current fitness activity for said second exerciser further comprising the step of:

displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser from exercise performed on a first type of exercise machine with a with said current fitness activity for said second exerciser from exercise performed on a second type of exercise machine.

53. A system for competing against a plurality of exercisers, said system comprising:

means for receiving current fitness activity for a first exerciser exercising on a first exercise machine in a particular mark-up language format at an exercise machine monitor for monitoring exercise performed by a second exerciser on a second exercise machine, wherein said current fitness activity is received at said exercise machine monitor from a universally accessible server system, wherein said current fitness activity for a first exerciser is identified by a universal identifier associated with said first exerciser; and

means for displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser with current fitness activity for said second exerciser from an output interface controlled by said exercise machine monitor, such that said second exerciser is enabled compete against a plurality of exercisers.

54. The system for competing against a plurality of exercisers according to claim 53, said system further comprising:

means for receiving a graphical output application for displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity from an alternate universally accessible server system in accordance with an alternate universal identifier associated with an application provider.

55. The system for competing against a plurality of exercisers according to claim 53, said means for displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser with current fitness activity for said second exerciser further comprising:

means for displaying a graphical comparison of said current fitness activity for said first exerciser from exercise performed on a first type of exercise machine with said current fitness activity for said second exerciser from exercise performed on a second type of exercise machine.

56. A universally accessible database of server systems comprising:

a plurality of universally accessible server systems each with access respectively to one of a plurality of data storage mediums, wherein a particular data storage medium comprises current fitness activity stored in a mark-up language format for a particular user according to a particular universal identifier; and

a communication interface between said plurality of universally accessible server systems and a controller for an exercise machine from among a plurality of exercise machines for receiving current fitness activity of said particular user on said exercise machine at said particular data storage medium.

57. The universally accessible database of server systems according to claim 56, said system further comprising:

an account server system comprising a lookup database of a plurality of universal identifiers, wherein said plurality of universally accessible server systems are accessible as each respectively associated with said plurality of universal identifiers.

58. The universally accessible database of server systems according to claim 56, wherein said particular data storage medium further comprises an electronic schedule for a particular user comprising a plurality of scheduled exercise events utilizing a plurality of exercise machines.

59. The universally accessible database of server systems according to claim 56, wherein said particular data storage medium further comprises a plurality of control programs each respectively designated for controlling one of a plurality of exercise machines when accessed via said interface at one of said plurality of exercise machines.

60. The universally accessible database of server systems according to claim 56, wherein said particular data storage medium further comprises a user profile for said particular user that when accessed via said interface at said controller for said exercise machine initializes said controller.