Controlling exercise equipment

• US 8,167,776 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael G. Lannon
• Original Assignee: Michael G. Lannon
• Inventors: Lannon, Michael G., Obana, Mary, Roman, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/539,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

In general, a computing device disposed in a cardio exercise machine receives data related to a fitness level of a user. The computing device selects a workout program based at least in part on the data. The operations of the cardio exercise machine are controlled based at least in part on the workout program. The computing device generates audio feedback based on at least one of the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine and the selected workout program. The processed data is stored on a removable computer storage medium that is insertable into a port of the cardio exercise machine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device disposed in a cardio exercise machine, data related to a fitness level of a user;

selecting, by the computing device based at least in part on the data, a first segment from a first workout program and a second segment from a second workout program;

generating a customized workout program by combining the first segment and the second segment;

controlling operations of the cardio exercise machine based at least in part on the customized workout program;

generating, by the computing device, audio feedback based on at least one of the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine and the customized workout program;

generating performance data based at least in part on the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine; and

storing the performance data on a removable computer storage medium that is insertable into a port of the cardio exercise machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating visual feedback to guide the user through the customized workout program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is comprised of personal data and performance data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the personal data comprises one or more of the height, weight, age, and gender of the user and the performance data comprises data relating to a previous performance of the user on one or more cardio exercise machines.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the personal data is associated with a user'"'"'s answers to questions provided by the cardio exercise machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operations of the cardio exercise machine comprises controlling one or more of a speed, incline, intensity, duration, and resistance provided by the cardio exercise machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cardio exercise machine provides the audio feedback to the user through a personal audio device configured to play audio content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, when the cardio exercise machine plays the audio feedback, the cardio exercise machine automatically lowers the volume of audio content being played by the personal audio device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine comprises a treadmill, stationary bicycle, stair-climber, elliptical trainer, ski-trainer, or rowing machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the audio feedback is generated before the user begins the customized workout program.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device receives the data from the removable computer storage medium.

12. A system comprising

a cardio exercise machine;

a control unit, comprising

a port configured to receive a removable computer storage medium; and

a computing device configured to;

receive data related to a fitness level of a user;

select, based at least in part on the data, a first segment from a first workout program and a second segment from a second workout program;

generate a customized workout program by combining the first segment and the second segment;

control operations of the cardio exercise machine based at least in part on the customized workout program;

generate audio feedback based on at least one of the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine and the customized workout program;

generate performance data based at least in part on the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine; and

store the performance data on the removable computer storage medium that is insertable into the port.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is configured to generate visual feedback to guide the user through the customized workout program.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the personal data comprises one or more of the height, weight, age, and gender of the user and the performance data comprises data relating to a previous performance of the user on one or more cardio exercise machines.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the personal data is associated with a user'"'"'s answers to questions provided by the cardio exercise machine.

16. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on a computing device, cause a cardio exercise machine to:

receive data related to a fitness level of a user;

select, based at least in part on the data, a first segment from a first workout program and a second segment from a second workout program;

generate a customized workout program by combining the first segment and the second segment;

control operations of the cardio exercise machine based at least in part on the customized workout program;

generate audio feedback based on at least one of the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine and the customized workout program;

generate performance data based at least in part on the user'"'"'s operation of the cardio exercise machine; and

store the performance data on the removable computer storage medium that is insertable into the port.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising instructions to generate visual feedback to guide the user through the customized workout program.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the personal data comprises one or more of the height, weight, age, and gender of the user and the performance data comprises data relating to a previous performance of the user on one or more cardio exercise machines.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the personal data is associated with a user'"'"'s answers to questions provided by the cardio exercise machine.