Exercise system and method

• US 10,864,406 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 12/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peloton Interactive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peloton Interactive, Inc.
• Inventors: Foley, John, Cortese, Thomas, Feng, Yu, Kushi, Hisao, Coiro, Maureen, Moschella, Anthony, Poure, Jason, Intonato, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Garrett K
• Application Number:
  US15/686,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/12 with mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1227 Dips, i.e. push-ups in a vertical position, i.e. eccentric movement, e.g. between parallel bars
• 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: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An exercise machine includes a processor, a first display, a deck, and a belt rotatable about the deck. The machine also includes a sensor operably connected to the processor and configured to detect a first performance parameter of a first user running on the belt of the exercise machine. The processor is configured to receive information indicative of a second performance parameter of a second user, the second performance parameter being detected at an additional exercise machine during display of the at least part of the exercise class on a display associated with the additional exercise machine. The processor is also configured to cause the second performance parameter to be displayed on the first display together with the first performance parameter.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing information about available exercise classes to a processor associated with a first exercise machine, the first exercise machine being located at a first remote location;

receiving, from a first user of the first exercise machine and via the processor, a selection of an exercise class among the available exercise classes;

providing, via a network and to the processor, digital content comprising the exercise class;

receiving, via the network, first performance parameters detected at the first exercise machine during display of a first portion of the exercise class on a first display associated with the first exercise machine, the first portion of the exercise class requiring participants to run on a treadmill;

receiving, via the network, second performance parameters detected at a second exercise machine during display of the first portion of the exercise class on a second display associated with the second exercise machine, the second exercise machine being located at a second remote location different from the first remote location;

providing, via the network, at least one parameter of the second performance parameters to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the at least one parameter of the second performance parameters to be displayed on the first display associated with the first exercise machine together with a corresponding at least one parameter of the first performance parameters; and

receiving, via the network, third performance parameters detected at a device of the first user during display of a second portion of the exercise class on the first display associated with the first exercise machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first exercise machine and second exercise machine comprise treadmills, and the exercise class comprises a running class performed by an instructor at least partially on a treadmill.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one of the available exercise classes comprises a live class streamed to the first exercise machine and second exercise machine substantially in real-time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first performance parameters include at least one of

a speed of a belt associated with a deck of the first exercise machine,

an incline of the deck, or

a mile pace of the first user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of the first performance parameters comprises an amount of energy expended by the first user while running during the first portion of the exercise class, and wherein the amount of energy is determined based at least partly on:

a speed of a belt associated with a deck of the first exercise machine, and

an incline of the deck.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via the network, video chat data to the processor associated with the first exercise machine, wherein the processor is configured to cause the video chat data to be displayed on the first display associated with the first exercise machine, in substantially real-time, together with the exercise class.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the network, video chat data from the processor associated with the first exercise machine, and

providing, via the network, the video chat data to a processor associated with the second exercise machine, wherein the processor associated with the second exercise machine is configured to cause the video chat data to be displayed on the second display associated with the second exercise machine together with the exercise class.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor associated with the first exercise machine is configured to cause the at least one parameter of the second performance parameters to be displayed on the first display associated with the first exercise machine together with the first portion of the exercise class.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the exercise class requires the participants to perform an activity off of the treadmill.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the network, fourth performance parameters detected at an additional device of the second user during display of the second portion of the exercise class on the second display associated with the second exercise machine; and

providing, via the network, at least one parameter of the fourth performance parameters to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the at least one parameter of the fourth performance parameters to be displayed on the first display associated with the first exercise machine together with a corresponding at least one parameter of the third performance parameters.

11. A method, comprising:

causing, on a first display associated with a first treadmill, a first portion of an exercise class to be displayed with a segmented timeline, the segmented timeline including first indicia indicating a first activity to be performed during the first portion of the exercise class and second indicia indicating a second activity to be performed during a second portion of the exercise class;

receiving information indicative of a first performance parameter detected by a sensor associated with the first treadmill, the first performance parameter being associated with a first user running on a belt of the first treadmill during display of the first portion of the exercise class on the first display;

receiving, via a network, information indicative of a second performance parameter associated with a second user, the second performance parameter being detected at a second treadmill during display of the first portion of the exercise class on a second display associated with the second treadmill, the second treadmill being located at location remote from the first treadmill; and

causing the second performance parameter to be displayed on the first display together with the first performance parameter and the segmented timeline.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a first input from the first user during display of the first portion of the exercise class on the first display, the first input being indicative of a request to change an incline of a deck of the first treadmill, the first treadmill including a belt rotatably connected to the deck; and

activating a first motor located substantially internal to the deck at least partly in response to the first input.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a second input from the first user during display of the first portion of the exercise class on the first display, the second input being indicative of a request to change a speed of the belt, the belt comprising a plurality of lateral slats; and

activating a second motor located substantially internal to the deck at least partly in response to the second input.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an amount of energy expended by the first user while running during the first portion of the exercise class; and

causing the amount of energy to be displayed on the first display together with the first portion of the exercise class, and wherein the first indicia indicates that the first user is to run during the first portion of the exercise class.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second indicia indicates that the first user is to at least one of:

lift weights during the second portion of the exercise class;

walk during the second portion of the exercise class;

or

run during the second portion of the exercise class.

16. A method, comprising:

causing a first portion of an exercise class to be displayed on a first display of a first treadmill, the first portion of the exercise class requiring running on the first treadmill;

receiving first data indicative of a first performance parameter of a first user, the first data detected by a first sensor of the first treadmill operated by the first user during display of the first portion of the exercise class on the first display, and wherein the first performance parameter includes at least one of;

a first speed of a first belt associated with a first deck of the first treadmill,

a first incline of the first deck, or

a first mile pace of the first user;

receiving second data indicative of a second performance parameter of a second user, the second data detected by a second parameter of a second treadmill operated by the second user, and wherein the second data is received during display of the first portion of the exercise class on a second display of the second treadmill, and wherein the second performance parameter includes at least one of;

a second speed of a second belt associated with a second deck of the second treadmill,

a second incline of the second deck, or

a second mile pace of the second user;

causing the first performance parameter and the second performance parameter to be displayed on the first display; and

causing a segmented timeline to be displayed on the first display in conjunction with the first portion, the segmented timeline including a first indicia associated with the first portion of the exercise class and a second indicia associated with a second portion of the exercise class.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

causing the second portion of the exercise class to be displayed on the first display;

receiving third data indicative of a third performance parameter of the first user, the third data detected by a third sensor of a third device operated by the first user, and wherein the third data is received during display of the second portion of the exercise class on the first display;

receiving fourth data indicative of an activity to be performed during the second portion of the exercise class; and

determining, based on the fourth data, that the third data indicative of the third performance parameter corresponds to the activity to be performed during the second portion of the exercise class.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the third device operated by the first user comprises a wearable device worn by the first user.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing first video chat data to the first treadmill, wherein the first treadmill is configured to display, in substantially real-time, the first portion of the exercise class and the first video chat data; and

providing second video chat data to the second treadmill, wherein the second treadmill is configured to display, in substantially real-time, the first portion of the exercise class and the second video chat data.