Exercise system with graphical feedback and method of gauging fitness progress

• US 8,409,057 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark H. Martens
• Original Assignee: Mark H. Martens
• Inventors: Martens, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/219,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 600/300, 600/324
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• 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 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/20 blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 : for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 : Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A system and method for providing visual feedback to a user of an exercise machine for gauging fitness progress of the user. The system provides a user of an exercise machine with a virtual competition in which the user competes against virtual competitors based on his past performances or those of other users, either as an individual or as a member of a team. The team may also be part of a league. For an individual competing against his own past performance(s), the system may raise the level of performance required to win the virtual competition, and may also lower the level of performance required if the user is not performing well on a particular day. For an individual competing against others in either real-time or against designated results, either as part of a team or a league, the system may reduce the isolation, disconnection, and tedium often experienced by users of cardiovascular exercise equipment and provide a social outlet. The system attempts to keep the user engaged and motivated to achieve desired fitness goals by providing real-time performance data and historical performance data displayed in a graphical manner coupled with the entertainment and excitement of competition and social interaction.

Claims

1. A computerized method for providing a visual gauge of fitness progress to a network of users of cardiovascular exercise machines, said method comprising:

receiving instantaneous sensed data during a workout, the instantaneous data sensed by one or more sensors and representative of at least one workout parameter of a first user;

storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in a database having an identifier corresponding to each user;

receiving stored historical data from one or more previous workouts, the historical data representative of the at least one workout parameter of the first user and at least one workout parameter of a second user as a function of time, said historical data retrieved with user identifiers corresponding to each of the first user and second user and being retrieved with permission of the second user; and

establishing a reward system for the first user and the second user, wherein the reward is based on current data and historical data of the first user and the second user, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrently with the instantaneous data of the first user when the first and second users are engaged in a virtual competition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing results of the virtual competition in the database and reporting the results to a user or an administrator of the virtual competition upon request, wherein a reward in the reward system is based on the results.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a virtual competition between two or more teams of users selected from the categorized pools using instantaneous data, wherein team competition results are stored in the database and reported upon request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the teams of users are selected from the categorized pools using historical data of the users.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing the capability for individuals or teams of users to compete in leagues, wherein an interface is provided for administering the leagues, and results are stored in the database and reported upon request.

7. A nontransitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving instantaneous sensed data during a workout, the instantaneous data sensed by one or more sensors and representative of at least one workout parameter of a first user, wherein the workout is presented as a game;

storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in a database having an identifier corresponding to each user;

receiving stored historical data from one or more previous workouts, the historical data representative of the workout parameter of the first user and a second user as a function of time, said historical data retrieved with user identifiers corresponding to each of the first and second user and with permission of the second user; and

displaying a graphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with the historical data on a display so that progress toward a desired fitness level can be gauged and presented as part of the game.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrently with the instantaneous data of the first user when the first and second users are engaged in a virtual competition.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a third user with remote access to the stored historical data of the first user when the third user identifies the first user, requests to access to the historical data of the first user, and the first user grants the third user access to the historical data of the first user.

10. A system for providing an indication of fitness progress of a first user to a third party requestor, the system comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to sense a value of at least one workout parameter during a workout of the first user and transmit the sensed value as an electronic data signal;

a database adapted to store historical data from at least one previous workout, said historical data representative of said at least one workout parameter as a function of time;

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and the database, the processor being programmed to receive the sensed value and store it in the database, the stored sensed value being associated with the first user, the processor programmed to rendering a real-time graphical representation of the sensed data juxtaposed with historical data retrieved from the database, wherein the real-time graphical representation includes a game; and

a display device adapted to display the rendered real-time graphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with the historical data so the progress toward a desired fitness level can be gauged by the first user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the retrieved historical data includes historical data of the first user and historical data of a second user, different from the first user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the real-time graphical representation includes true-to-life routes for virtual exercising.