Tracking system for promoting health fitness

• US 6,077,193 A
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Core Industries Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Unisen Incorporated (Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad SA)
• Inventors: Quam, David R., Buhler, Kirk A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/055,196
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-8, 482/51, 482/54-66, 482/900-903, 434/247, 434/257
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

This invention provides a system which allows users to personally create his or her own individual exercise program using any existing type of exercise machine, such as treadmills, bicycles, stair-climbers, weight lifting and the like. The invention provides a point-based incentive program to encourage the user to stay with an exercise program. Each user is supplied a personal data "key" on which is stored the individual'"'"'s fitness program and on which is stored the person'"'"'s progress in reaching or maintaining his or her fitness goal. The system provides a continuing incentive to the user to continue his or her exercise program by awarding points for: (i) time the user is on the machine; (ii) time the person indicates their heart rate is at a level that will allow the person to achieve their fitness goal; and/or (iii) time the person'"'"'s measured heart rate is at a level that will allow the person to achieve his fitness goal. Each users key is personal and transportable so that users who travel can use their personal data key at any facility world-wide that has the data collectors installed.

Claims

1. A personal exercise tracking system for assisting a user to attain a desired exercise goal comprising:

a personal key having a memory device for storing information relevant to said user and/or said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal;

a keybox associated with an exercise device for receiving said key and for reading said information relevant to said user and/or said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal;

a data collector for collecting exercise data relevant to said user and/or said exercise device; and

a comparator for comparing said exercise data to said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal and for according points and/or other incentive rewards when said exercise data indicates that said user is exercising at an intensity level and/or duration adequate to achieve said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal.

2. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said keybox is associated with an exercise device comprising one of the following devices:

treadmill, bicycle, stationary bicycle, stair-climber, rowing machine, weight lifting or universal machine.

3. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein each personal key has a memory device sufficient to stored said user'"'"'s fitness program, desired fitness or exercise goal and progress in reaching or maintaining said fitness or exercise goal in terms of a number of said points achieved over a period of time.

4. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 3 wherein said memory device comprises a re-programmable EEPROM memory storage device.

5. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said comparator accords points as follows:

(i) for each predetermined unit of time that the user'"'"'s key is inserted in the keybox;

(ii) for each predetermined unit of time the user indicates their heart rate is at a level that will allow the user to achieve their desired fitness goal; and

/or (iii) for each predetermined unit of time the user'"'"'s measured heart rate is at a level that will allow the user to achieve their fitness goal.

6. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein each personal key is removable and contains all such information relevant to said user and/or said user'"'"'s exercise goal and progress toward said user'"'"'s exercise gaol such that users can use their personal key at any number of different facilities.

7. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said keybox is incorporated in the display of an associated exercise machine.

8. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 further comprising a data readout or print out for displaying or printing said user'"'"'s exercise program, exercise goal, number of points accumulated and/or other information relevant to said user'"'"'s exercise workout or fitness goal.

9. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 further comprising a heart rate detector for measuring the actual heart rate of said user and wherein said comparator accords said points whenever said measured heart rate is maintained above a predetermined threshold level for a predetermined period of time.

10. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said heart rate detector provides a 6 beat rolling average of measured heart beat.

11. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said heart rate detector further comprises a first filter that will not accept two heart beats if they occur too close together, a second filter to cancel variations in the users heart rate that exceed 10 BPM on two consecutive beats and a third filter to mask values outside 50 to 200 BPM reading.

12. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said comparator is adapted to accord incentive rewards in the form of points or an exercise score that is stored on said user'"'"'s personal key or on a display readout.

13. The personal exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein comparator is adapted to accord incentive rewards in the form of congratulatory sounds or voice recordings.

14. A method of tracking personal fitness goals comprising the steps of:

storing information on a removable key relevant to a user'"'"'s exercise program and desired exercise goal;

reading said information;

collecting exercise data relevant to said user and/or an exercise device which said user is using; and

comparing said exercise data to said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal and for according points and/or other incentive rewards when said exercise data indicates that said user is exercising at an intensity level and/or duration adequate to achieve said user'"'"'s desired exercise goal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said comparator accords points or other incentive rewards as follows:

(i) for each predetermined unit of time that the user'"'"'s key is inserted in the keybox;

(ii) for each predetermined unit of time the user indicates their heart rate is at a level that will allow the user to achieve their desired fitness goal; and

/or (iii) for each predetermined unit of time the user'"'"'s measured heart rate is at a level that will allow the user to achieve their fitness goal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein points or incentive rewards are accorded in the form of points or an exercise score that is stored on said user'"'"'s personal key or on a display readout.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein incentive rewards are provided in the form of congratulatory sounds or voice recordings.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying or printing out said user'"'"'s exercise program, exercise goal, number of points accumulated and/or other information relevant to said user'"'"'s exercise workout or fitness goal.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of measuring the actual heart rate of said user and according points whenever said measured heart rate is maintained above a predetermined threshold level for a predetermined period of time.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising the further step of averaging said measured rate to provide a 6 beat rolling average of measured heart beat.