Routine-based management of exercise equipment access

• US 8,926,476 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Abuelsaad, Tamer E., Moore, John E. Jr., Singi, Rajeshkumar N., Wentworth, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/299,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A solution for managing access to exercise equipment in a fitness facility is provided. A planned exercise routine for a user, which includes data corresponding to a plurality of exercises desired to be performed by the user at the fitness facility is used for providing location information for presentation to the user. Each exercise can require use of an exercise apparatus. The exercise can be mapped to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility. A target exercise apparatus can be identified from the mapped exercise apparatus(es). Location information for one or more of the target exercise apparatuses can be provided for presentation to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing access to exercise equipment in a fitness facility, the method comprising:

obtaining, via a computer system, electronic data corresponding to an exercise routine for a user, wherein the exercise routine includes an exercise desired to be performed by the user at the fitness facility;

mapping the exercise to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility using the computer system;

identifying a target exercise apparatus at the fitness facility for the exercise from the at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility using the computer system; and

providing location information for the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise in the exercise routine for presentation to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the exercise in the exercise routine to an exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility; and

mapping the exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying includes selecting the target exercise apparatus based on at least one of:

a versatility of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, an operating condition of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, or a location of the at least one exercise apparatus with respect to a previous location of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a shortage at the fitness facility for an identified target exercise apparatus for the exercise;

identifying an alternative exercise apparatus for the exercise; and

providing location information for the alternative exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifying is based on at least one of:

a monitored availability of the target exercise apparatus, a reported inoperability of the identified target exercise apparatus, or at least one of;

a usage history of the target exercise apparatus by the user and by a second individual desiring to use the identified target exercise apparatus or a relative seniority of the user with respect to the second individual.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically obtaining current usage data corresponding to a current usage of at least some of a plurality of exercise apparatuses at the fitness facility, wherein the mapping uses the current usage data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an alert for presentation to the user in response to failing to identify a target exercise apparatus for the exercise.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise comprises a compound exercise apparatus, the providing location information including providing location information corresponding to an accessory exercise apparatus of the compound exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.

9. A computer system for managing access to exercise equipment in a fitness facility by performing a method, the method comprising:

obtaining electronic data corresponding to an exercise routine for a user, wherein the exercise routine includes an exercise desired to be performed by the user at the fitness facility;

mapping the exercise to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility;

identifying a target exercise apparatus at the fitness facility for the exercise from the at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility; and

providing location information for the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise in the exercise routine for presentation to the user.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the exercise in the exercise routine to an exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility; and

mapping the exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the identifying includes selecting the target exercise apparatus based on at least one of:

a versatility of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, an operating condition of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, or a location of the at least one exercise apparatus with respect to a previous location of the user.

12. The computer system of claim 9, the method further comprising:

identifying a shortage at the fitness facility for an identified target exercise apparatus for the exercise;

identifying an alternative exercise apparatus for the exercise; and

providing location information for the alternative exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.

13. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising automatically obtaining current usage data corresponding to a current usage of at least some of a plurality of exercise apparatuses at the fitness facility, wherein the mapping uses the current usage data.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise comprises a compound exercise apparatus, the providing location information including providing location information corresponding to an accessory exercise apparatus of the compound exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.

15. A computer program comprising program code embodied in at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method of managing access to exercise equipment in a fitness facility, the method comprising:

obtaining electronic data corresponding to an exercise routine for a user, wherein the exercise routine includes an exercise desired to be performed by the user at the fitness facility;

mapping the exercise to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility;

identifying a target exercise apparatus at the fitness facility for the exercise from the at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility; and

providing location information for the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise in the exercise routine for presentation to the user.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the mapping includes:

mapping the exercise in the exercise routine to an exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility; and

mapping the exercise capable of being performed at the fitness facility to at least one exercise apparatus located at the fitness facility.

17. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the identifying includes selecting the target exercise apparatus based on at least one of:

a versatility of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, an operating condition of each of the at least one exercise apparatus, or a location of the at least one exercise apparatus with respect to a previous location of the user.

18. The computer program of claim 15, the method further comprising:

identifying a shortage at the fitness facility for an identified target exercise apparatus for the exercise;

identifying an alternative exercise apparatus for the exercise; and

providing location information for the alternative exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.

19. The computer program of claim 15, further comprising automatically obtaining current usage data corresponding to a current usage of at least some of a plurality of exercise apparatuses at the fitness facility, wherein the mapping uses the current usage data.

20. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the target exercise apparatus corresponding to the exercise comprises a compound exercise apparatus, the providing location information including providing location information corresponding to an accessory exercise apparatus of the compound exercise apparatus for presentation to the user.