User status notification system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A user status notification system comprising:
- a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device;
an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; and
a visible notifier associated with the fitness equipment unit to provide a visible indication, on the fitness equipment unit, that visibly indicates to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit, wherein the status information provided by the notifier is codified so as to not directly communicate the status information to anyone without a key or without knowledge of what the codified status information represents to maintain privacy of the status information, wherein the status information is selected from a group consisting of;
an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club;
the user'"'"'s frequency of attendance at a fitness club and a number of times, a number of days or a number of workouts on the fitness equipment unit by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user status notification system and method indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.
163 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; and a visible notifier associated with the fitness equipment unit to provide a visible indication, on the fitness equipment unit, that visibly indicates to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit, wherein the status information provided by the notifier is codified so as to not directly communicate the status information to anyone without a key or without knowledge of what the codified status information represents to maintain privacy of the status information, wherein the status information is selected from a group consisting of;
an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club;
the user'"'"'s frequency of attendance at a fitness club and a number of times, a number of days or a number of workouts on the fitness equipment unit by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; a notifier physically supported by the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifier emits wireless human imperceptible signals including the status information; a portable handheld notification receiver configured to receive the signals and convert the imperceptible signals to a human perceptible signals, wherein at least one of the notifier and the portable handheld notification receiver are configured such that the human perceptible signals are only provided when the portable handheld notification receiver is within a predetermined threshold distance from the notifier, wherein the portable handheld notification receiver is configured to change at least one of an illumination level, a color or an off/on state upon two criteria being satisfied;
(1) the notification receiver being located within the predetermined threshold distance of the notifier and (2) the user of the fitness equipment unit meeting a predetermined user criteria threshold, wherein the predetermined user criteria threshold is selected from a group of thresholds comprising;
membership age, frequency of attendance, and a number of times, a number of days or a number of workouts on the fitness equipment unit by the user. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; and a notifier supported by the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit, wherein the fitness equipment unit includes a display screen and wherein the notifier comprises a background color presented on the display screen, wherein the background color indicates a status selected from a group consisting of;
an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club;
the user'"'"'s frequency of attendance at a fitness club and a number of times, a number of days or a number of workouts on the fitness equipment unit by the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; and a non-alphanumeric visible notifier associated with the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit, wherein the status information indicates an age of the user'"'"'s membership at a fitness club.
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21. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; a non-alphanumeric visible notifier associated with the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit; and a centralized computer containing attendance data and in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifier is actuated based upon attendance data received from the centralized computer.
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22. A user status notification system comprising:
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a fitness equipment unit comprising a cardiovascular or strength conditioning exercise device; an input associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a human user using the fitness equipment unit; a non-alphanumeric visible notifier associated with the fitness equipment unit and actuatable to indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit; and a centralized computer containing club membership data and in communication with a plurality of fitness equipment units including the fitness equipment unit, wherein the notifier is actuated based upon club membership data received from the centralized computer.
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Specification