Interface for controlling and accessing information on an exercise device

• US 7,022,047 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eGym, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netpulse, LLC
• Inventors: Proulx, Tom, Kobuchi, Kent, Cohen, Michael Alvarez
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/866,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A computer-implemented interface method for use with a display device associated with an exercise device includes connecting a network connection to the exercise device capable of accessing information stored over a network, partitioning a first portion of the display device associated with the exercise device to display content, partitioning a second portion of the display device associated with the exercise device to display one or more controls that control the exercise device, and providing a selectable element on the display device that upon selection removes the second portion of the display used to display the one or more controls.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented interface method for use on a display device associated with an exercise device, comprising:

connecting a network connection to the exercise device capable of accessing information stored over a network;

partitioning a display of the display device associated with the exercise device to form a first display portion to display content;

partitioning the display of the display device to form a second display portion to display one or more controls to control the exercise device; and

providing a selectable element on the display device that upon selection removes the second display portion from the display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

expanding the first display portion in response to the selection of the selectable element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection includes access to the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display portion covers a field portion of the display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display portion covers a border portion of the display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second display portion occupying the border portion of the display appears to slide like a drawer into the outer edge of the display when removed.

7. A method for improving the usability of an interface for an exercise device, comprising:

connecting a network connection to the exercise device capable of accessing information stored over a network;

partitioning a display of a display device associated with the exercise device to form a first display portion to display content;

partitioning the display of the display device to form a second display portion to display one or more controls to control the exercise device; and

providing a selectable element in the second display portion of the display device that upon selection increases a size of one or more selectable elements in the first display portion of the display device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network connection provides access to the Internet.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more selectable elements in the first portion of the display device capable of increasing in size are hypertext selectable elements.

10. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for use on a display device associated with an exercise device, the program instructions including instructions operable to cause a processor to:

connect the exercise device to a network having access to information;

partition a display of the display device associated with the exercise device to form a first display portion to display content;

partition the display of the display device to form a second display portion to display one or more controls to control the exercise device; and

provide a selectable element on the display device that upon selection removes the second display portion from the display.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising program instructions operable to cause a processor to expand the first display portion in response to the selection of the selectable element.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network has access to the Internet.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first display portion covers a field portion of the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second display portion covers a border portion of the display.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second display portion occupying the border portion of the display appears to slide like a drawer into the outer edge of the display when removed.

11. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for improving the usability of an interface for an exercise device, the program instructions including instructions operable to cause a processor to:

connect the exercise device to a network having access to information;

partition a display of the display device associated with the exercise device to form a first display portion to display content;

partition the display of the display device to form a second display portion to display one or more controls to control the exercise device; and

provide a selectable element in the second display portion of the display device that upon selection increases a size of one or more selectable elements in the first display portion of the display device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the network has access to the Internet.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the selectable elements in the first display portion of the display device capable of increasing in size are hypertext selectable elements.