Method and apparatus for remote interactive exercise and health equipment

• US 6,749,537 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Cybergym Incorporated
• Inventors: Hickman, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,178
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/57, 482/900-902, 600/418, 600/300, 600/520, 607/2, 607/19, 607/32
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• 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 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 : within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium preferably including the Internet that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus includes running a modifiable script on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of an exercise apparatus, and communicating with a remote system, preferably via the Internet, to provide the remote system with data concerning the use of the exercise apparatus. The script is stored in read/write memory of the local computer and remote system data received from the remote system may include at least a portion of a new script to be stored in the read/write memory of the local computer.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

a local system including at least one exercise apparatus, at least one associated local computer, said at least one local computer controlling and monitoring the operation and use, respectively, of said at least one exercise apparatus, and a loudspeaker coupled to said at least one local computer to provide a vocal communication of a remote personal trainer;

a remote system including at least one remote computer; and

a communication linkage including a packet network connection that at least part-time couples said local system to said remote system for data communication between said local system and said remote system, such that said remote system may receive local system data from said local system concerning said use of said exercise apparatus, and such that said local system may receive remote system data from said remote system concerning said operation of said exercise apparatus.

2. An exercise system as recited in claim 1 wherein said local system is one of a plurality of local systems, each of which is in at least part-time communication with said remote computer, and wherein said packet network operates on a TCP/IP protocol.

3. An exercise system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a server system including at least one server computer in at least part-time communication with said remote computer.

4. An exercise system as recited in claim 3 wherein said remote system is one of a plurality of remote systems, and each of which is in at least part-time communication with said server system.

5. An exercise system as recited in claim 4, wherein said local computer controls an operation of said exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of said local computer.

6. A local system as recited in claim 5 wherein said local computer is located internally to said exercise apparatus, and wherein said script is modifiable externally to said exercise apparatus.

7. A local system as recited in claim 6 wherein said local computer wherein said remote system data may include at least a portion of a modified script to be stored in said read/write memory.

8. A local system as recited in claim 5 wherein said exercise apparatus includes at least one of a bicycle, a rowing machine, a step machine, and a resistance trainer.

9. A local system as recited in claim 5 wherein said script may include a resistance setting for said exercise apparatus.

10. A local system comprising:

at least one exercise apparatus; and

at least one associated local computer monitoring a use of said exercise apparatus and, in response thereto, controlling an operation of said exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of said local computer, wherein said operation may include a force-feedback to a user of said exercise apparatus, and a loudspeaker coupled to said at least one local computer to provide a vocal communication of a remote personal trainer.

11. A local system as recited in claim 10 wherein said local computer is located internally to said exercise apparatus, and wherein said script is modifiable externally to said exercise apparatus.

12. A local system as recited in claim 11 wherein said local computer can communicate with a remote system to provide said remote system with local system data concerning said use of said exercise apparatus, and to receive remote system data including at least a portion of a modified script to be stored in said read/write memory.

13. A local system as recited in claim 12 wherein said exercise apparatus includes at least one of a bicycle, a rowing machine, a step machine, and a resistance trainer.

14. A local system as recited in claim 12 wherein said script includes a resistance setting for said exercise apparatus.

15. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus comprising:

running a modifiable script on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of an exercise apparatus, said script being stored in read/write memory of said local computer, where the use of said exercise apparatus may be affected by said script and by said monitoring of said operation of said exercise device;

communicating with a remote system via a network using a TCP/IP protocol to provide said remote system with data concerning said use of said exercise apparatus, and to receive from said remote system data including at least a portion of a modified script to be stored in said read/write memory of said local computer; and

providing a vocal communication from a remote personal trainer.

16. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said communicating comprises establishing a communication linkage including an Internet link between said local computer and said remote system.

17. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising:

communicating between said remote system and a server system, such that remote system data derived, at least in part, from said local computer can be communicated to said server system, and such that server data can be communicated to said remote system.

18. An exercise system comprising:

a local system including at least one exercise apparatus, a video camera associated with said exercise apparatus, and at least one local computer coupled to said video camera and operative to develop compressed video data in a packet protocol;

a remote server system including at least one remote computer capable of at least communication to said exercise apparatus; and

a communication linkage including a packet network connection that at least part-time couples said local system to said remote server system such that said compressed video data can be sent from said local system to said remote server system.

19. An exercise system as recited in claim 18 wherein said local system is one of a plurality of local systems, each of which is in at least part-time communication with said remote computer, and wherein said packet network operates on a TCP/IP protocol.

20. An exercised system as recited in claim 19, wherein said local computer controls an operation of said exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of said local computer.

21. A local system as recited in claim 20 wherein said local computer is located internally to said exercise apparatus, and wherein said script is modifiable externally to said exercise apparatus.

22. A local system as recited in claim 20 wherein said remote computer may include at least a portion of said modified script to be stored in said read/write memory of said local computer.

23. A localy system as recited in claim 18 wherein said exercise apparatus includes at least one of a bicycle, a rowing machine, a step machine, and a resistance trainer.

24. A local system as recited in claim 20 wherein said script may include a resistance setting for said exercise apparatus.

25. A local system as recited in claim 18 wherein said compressed video data is transmitted over said packet network to said remote server system, and wherein said remote server system further includes a video display operative to display imagery developed by said compressed video data.

26. An exercise system as recited in claim 18 wherein said compressed video data is first compressed video data, and wherein said local system further includes a video display coupled to said local computer and operative to display imagery developed from a second compressed video data received over said packet network.

27. A method for providing remote exercise apparatus interaction comprising:

developing user video data related to a use of an exercise apparatus by a user;

developing compressed user video data in a packet protocol from said user videto data;

transmitting said compressed user video data over a packet network to a remote location different from that of said exercise apparatus;

decompressing said compressed user video data to recover said user video data; and

displaying imagery related to said use of said exercise apparatus derived from said user video data at said remote location.

28. A method for providing remote exercise apparatus interaction as recited in claim 27 further comprising:

running a modifiable script on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of said exercise apparatus, said script being stored in read/write memory of said local computer, where the use of said exercise apparatus may be affected by said script.

29. A method for providing remote exercise apparatus interaction as recited in claim 27 wherein said packet network utilizes a TCP/IP protocol.

30. A method for providing remote exercise apparatus interaction as recited in claim 29 wherein said TCP/IP network includes the Internet.

31. A method from providing remote exercise apparatus interaction as recited in claim 27 further comprising:

developing remote video data representing remote interaction with said user;

developing compressed remote video data in a packet protocol from said remote video data;

receiving said compressed remote video data over said packet network;

decompressing said compressed remote video data to recover said remote video data; and

displaying imagery representing said interaction, derived from said remote video data, for said user.

32. A method from providing remote exercise apparatus interaction as recited in claim 27 wherein said user video data is developed by a video camera associated with said exercise apparatus.