Systems and methods for accessing personalized fitness services using a portable electronic device

• US 8,083,643 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ng, Stanley Carl, Hailey, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Application Number:
  US12/605,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482901-902, 482 2- 9, 700 91- 93, 705 2- 4, 705 141- 1439, 705/26, 705/319, 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

This is directed to systems and methods for accessing personalized fitness services through an integrated application available to a portable electronic device. The integrated application can provide a full fitness center experience by introducing potential new customer to a fitness center and then motivating them to return to the fitness center as active members. For example, the integrated application can provide functions to introduce new customers to a fitness center, can provide functions to motivate customers to join and actively visit the fitness center, can provide in-gym motivation, and can provide post-workout motivation.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a fitness center, the method comprising:

introducing a user to a particular fitness center via an integrated application of a portable electronic device, wherein the user is a potential new customer of the particular fitness center;

after the introducing, providing incentive, via the integrated application, for the user to join the particular fitness center;

in response to the user joining the particular fitness center as a result of the incentive, providing, via the integrated application, in-gym motivation for motivating the user to work out at the particular fitness center; and

providing, via the integrated application, post-workout motivation to encourage the user to actively return to the particular fitness center, wherein at least one of the providing incentive, the providing in-gym motivation, and the providing post-workout motivation comprises connecting the user, via the integrated application, with a calendar server of the particular fitness center for allowing the user to perform a scheduling function with the particular fitness center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing comprises:

transmitting a free pass to visit the particular fitness center to the portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing comprises:

transmitting at least one of a membership promotion and an affiliate offer associated with the particular fitness Center to the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing incentive, via the integrated application, for the user to join the particular fitness center comprises:

transmitting at least one of news, updates, daily promotions, and daily activities associated with the particular fitness center to the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing incentive, via the integrated application, for the user to join the particular fitness center comprises:

identifying at least one member of a social network of the particular fitness center for recommending as a workout buddy to the user; and

providing a recommendation of the at least one member to the user through the integrated application.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying comprises:

receiving at least one user preference associated with the user;

comparing the at least one user preference associated with the user to user preferences associated with members of the social network; and

determining the at least one user preferences matches a user preference of the one member.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one user preference associated with the user comprises at least one of age, gender, athletic ability, a preferred exercise type, a preferred workout time, a fitness center at which the user is a member, and a preferred workout location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, via the integrated application, in-gym motivation comprises:

transmitting an up-sell opportunity to the portable electronic device to purchase at least one of a session with a personal trainer, an item from a store of the particular fitness center, and a fitness class.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, via the integrated application, in-gym motivation comprises:

transmitting to the portable electronic device at least one of a workout program, a workout video, and an exercise equipment guide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, via the integrated application, in-gym motivation comprises:

determining the user has accomplished a workout achievement; and

transmitting a notification associated with the workout achievement to at least one member of a social network of the particular fitness center.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, via the integrated application, post-workout motivation comprises:

transmitting to the portable electronic device at least one coupon associated with an item for re-energizing the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting comprises:

determining the user has accomplished at least one workout goal; and

transmitting the at least one coupon in response to determining the uses has accomplished the at least one goal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, via the integrated application, post-workout motivation comprises:

determining an amount of time since a last visit of the user to the particular fitness center; and

providing a notification to the user through the integrated application of the amount of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing a notification comprises:

providing an option for at least one of scheduling an appointment with a personal trainer, reserving a spot in a fitness class, and scheduling a visit to the particular fitness center on a calendar application of the user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling function comprises at least one of scheduling a session with a personal fitness trainer of the particular fitness center and reserving a spot in a fitness center class of the particular fitness center.

16. An electronic device operable to interface with a fitness center, the electronic device comprising:

a processor operable to run an integrated application providing functions to;

inform the user of the fitness center;

determine the user has joined the fitness center, and

in response to determining the user has joined the fitness center;

motivate the user to actively attend the fitness center;

provide in-gym motivation when a user is located in the fitness center; and

provide post-workout motivation in response to the user leaving the fitness center, wherein at least one of the functions to motivate the user, to provide in-gym motivation, and to provide post-workout motivation comprises connecting the user, via the integrated application, with a calendar server of the fitness center for allowing the user to perform a scheduling function with the fitness center.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

communication circuitry operable to receive a listing of available services of the fitness center; and

a display component operable to display the listing.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

display component, and wherein;

the processor is further operable to;

generate a fitness center locator comprising a map and directions to the fitness center; and

direct the display component to display the fitness center locator.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

communication circuitry operable to communicate with at least one piece of equipment of the fitness center to control at least one setting of the at least one piece of equipment.

21. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

a display component; and

communication circuitry operable to;

communicate with at least one piece of equipment of the fitness center to identify past workout information of the user, and wherein;

the processor is further operable to;

generate at least one analytical tool based on the identified past workout information; and

direct the display component to display the analytical tool.

22. Non-transitory machine-readable media for interfacing with a fitness center, the machine-readable media comprising machine-readable instructions recorded thereon for:

introducing a user to a particular fitness center via an integrated application of a portable electronic device, wherein the user is a potential new customer of the particular fitness center;

after the introducing, providing incentive, via the integrated application, for the user to loin the particular fitness center;

in response to the use joining the particular fitness center as a result of the incentive, providing, via the integrated application, in-gym motivation for motivating the user to work out at the particular fitness center; and

providing, via the integrated application, post-workout motivation to encourage the user to actively return to the particular fitness center, wherein at least one of the providing incentive, the providing in-gym motivation, and the providing post-workout motivation comprises connecting the user, via the integrated application, with a calendar server of the particular fitness center for allowing the user to perform a scheduling function with the particular fitness center.