Computer systems and methods for interaction with exercise device

• US 7,060,006 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Ashby, Darren C., Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/641,600
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/57, 482900-902
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0677 Input by image recognition, e.g. video signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/201 : for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 : Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/56 : electrically folded and erected
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 : Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 : Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/107 : Resisting devices being of the same kind
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 : Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• 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 24/0062 : 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 24/0084 : 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 69/06 : for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 : for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/182 : for cross-country-skiing A63B23/0417, A63B69/0022 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 : Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise device is configured to enable a user to interact with a trainer in real-time communication. The exercise device includes an exercise mechanism having a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a user. Communicating with the exercise mechanism is an interface adapted for gathering a first real-time signal from the user. The interface communicates with a communication system for receiving a packetized second real-time signal including a synchronized control signal from the trainer. The exercise device includes an output device configured to reproduce the second real-time signal. The control signals carried by the second signal are used to control the operating parameters of the exercise mechanism in real-time.

Claims

1. A computer system for enabling interaction between one or more users with one or more trainers, the computer system comprising:

(a) a user module adapted to control one or more operating parameter of an exercise device, the user module being adapted to receive packetized programming including at least one control signal;

(b) a trainer module remote from and communicating with the user module so that a trainer at said trainer module may visually and audibly communicate with a user at the user module, the trainer module being capable of generating the packetized programming representative of changes to be made to the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device;

(c) a communication module in communication with the user module and the trainer module, the communication module being configured to deliver the packetized programming including the at least one control signal to the user module; and

(d) a scaling control that enables a user to vary the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, the scaling control provides a value representative of a proportional change to be made to the at least one control signal received by the user module to change the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device.

2. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication module is in real time communication with the user module and the training module such that the communication module delivers programming to the user module in real time.

3. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user module comprises:

(a) a user interface module adapted to gather one or more user inputs from the user;

(b) an exercise module in communication with the user interface and configured to enable a user to exercise; and

(c) an interface module, in communication with the exercise module, configured to receive the packetized programming including one or more control signals and deliver the same to the exercise module.

6. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user module further comprises a data storage module configured to store the programming and the one or more control signals received from the communication module.

7. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises:

(a) a user interface module configured to communicate with the user module;

(b) a control signal generation module configured to generate the one or more control signals; and

(c) a control module configured to synchronize the one or more control signals with the programming.

8. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the control module obtains the programming from the user module.

9. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the control module obtains the programming from a data storage module.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the trainer module comprises a control signal generation module configured to generate the one or more control signals.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication module comprises:

(a) a user interface module configured to communicate with the user module;

(b) a data storage module configured to store the programming; and

(c) a control module configured to synchronize the one or more control signals received from the trainer module with the programming.

12. A computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third party control module, the third party control module being configured to control user module and trainer module via communication module.

13. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a web site.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein a user of the user module may log into the web site, wherein the communication module track the actions taken by the user upon accessing the web site.

15. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein the communication module tracks one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the time that a user exercises;

(ii) the location from which the user is logging in to the web site;

(iii) the exercise devices used by the user, (iv) the purchases made by the user.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein upon a user logging out of the web site, communication module resets one or more login parameters of the user.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming comprise one or more advertisement banners.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 17, wherein the one or more advertisement banners are periodically displayed to the user of the user module.

19. A computer system as recited in claim 18, wherein the one or more advertisement banners are continuously displayed to the user of the user module.

4. A computer system for enabling interaction between one or more users with one or more trainers, the computer system comprising:

(a) a user module adapted to control one or more operating parameter of an exercise device, the user module being adapted to receive packetized programming including at least one control signal;

wherein the user module comprises;

a user interface module adapted to gather one or more user inputs from the user;

an exercise module in communication with the user interface and configured to enable a user to exercise; and

an interface module, in communication with the exercise module, configured to receive the packetized programming including one or more control signals and deliver the same to the exercise module

(b) a trainer module remote from and communicating with the user module so that a trainer at said trainer module may visually and audibly communicate with a user at the user module, the trainer module being capable of generating the packetized programming representative of changes to be made to the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device; and

(c) a communication module in communication with the user module and the trainer module, the communication module being configured to deliver the packetized programming including the at least one control signal to the user module

(d) a communication module in communication with the user module and the trainer module, the communication module being configured to deliver the packetized programming including the at least one control signal to the user module, wherein the user module further comprises a safety module disposed between the exercise module and the interface module, the safety module being configured to maintain the operation of the exercise module in the event that the user module becomes disconnected from the communication module.

5. A computer system for enabling interaction between one or more users with one or more trainers, the computer system comprising:

(a) a user module adapted to control one or more operating parameter of an exercise device, the user module being adapted to receive packetized programming including at least one control signal;

wherein the user module comprises;

a user interface module adapted to gather one or more user inputs from the user;

an exercise module in communication with the user interface and configured to enable a user to exercise; and

an interface module, in communication with the exercise module, configured to receive the packetized programming including one or more control signals and deliver the same to the exercise module

(b) a trainer module remote from and communicating with the user module so that a trainer at said trainer module may visually and audibly communicate with a user at the user module, the trainer module being capable of generating the packetized programming representative of changes to be made to the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device; and

(c) a communication module in communication with the user module and the trainer module, the communication module being configured to deliver the packetized programming including the at least one control signal to the user module

(d) a communication module in communication with the user module and the trainer module, the communication module being configured to deliver the packetized programming including the at least one control signal to the user module, wherein the user module further comprises a safety module disposed between the exercise module and the interface module, the safety module being configured to automatically disconnect the user module from the communication module when the user has completed the programming received from the communication module.

20. A computer system for enabling one or more users to interact with one another, comprising:

(a) a first user module adapted to control one or more operating parameters of an exercise device, the first user module generating a first signal;

(b) a second user module remote from and communicating with the first user module so that a user of the first user module may both visually and audibly communicate with a user of the second module, said second user module being adapted to control one or more operating parameters of an exercise device;

(c) a communication module, in communication with the first user module and the second user module, the communication module being configured to deliver said first signal to said second user module; and

(d) a third party control module to control the operating parameters of the first user module and the second user module in real-time.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein the second user module generates a second signal and the communication module is configured to deliver the second signal to the first user module.

22. A computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein the communication module controls both the first user module and the second user module in real-time.

23. A computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein the communication module stores said first signal and subsequently delivers said first signal to said second user module upon said second user module requesting the same from the communication module.

24. A computer system as recited in claim 23, wherein the first signal comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of an audio signal and a video signal.

25. A computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein the communication system delivers a program signal to the second user module, said program signal representative of a program performed by the first user module to generate the first signal.

26. A computer system for enabling interaction, the computer system comprising:

(a) a first audio video input/output device module mounted on an exercise device having a display, a first video camera, and a first microphone, said first module being adapted to control one or more operating parameters of said exercise device and transmitting first video data received from said first video camera and first audio data received from said first microphone, wherein the display includes a plurality of interface devices to allow a user to change one or more parameters of the exercise device;

(b) a second audio video input/output device module mounted on another exercise device having a display, a second video camera, and a second microphone, said second module being remote from and communicating with said first module, said second user module being adapted to transmit second video data received from said second video camera and second audio data received from second first microphone, wherein the display includes a plurality of interface devices to allow a user to change one or more parameters of the exercise device; and

(c) a communication module, in communication with said first module and said second module, the communication module being configured to deliver said first video data and said first audio data to said second module and to deliver said second video data and said second audio data to said first module so that a user at the first module may visually and audibly communicate with another user at the second module.

27. A computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein said communication module controls deliver of said first video data and said second video data to both said first module and said second module in real-time.

28. A computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein the display of one or both of the first audio video input/output device module and the second audio video input/output device module are adapted to permit picture-in-picture viewing of various images and information.

29. A computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein the interface devices of the display of one or both of the first audio video input/output device module and the second audio video input/output device module comprise one or more of touch sensitive controls, voice activated controllers and potentiometers.

30. A computer system for enabling interaction, the computer system comprising:

(a) a first module associated with an exercise device having a first video camera and a first microphone, said first module being adapted to control one or more operating parameters of said exercise device and transmitting at least one of first video data received from said first video camera and first audio data received from said first microphone;

(b) a communication module, in communication with said first module, the communication module being configured to receive at least one of said first video data and said first audio data; and

(c) a communication network disposed between said first module and said communication module and being capable of facilitating delivery of at least one of said first video data and said first audio data from said first module to said communication module so that a user at said first module may visually and audibly communicates with another user in communication with said communication module; and

wherein at least one of said first video data and said first audio data includes information regarding intensity of one or more parameters of the user'"'"'s exercise, the one or more parameters comprising one or more of speed, incline, resistance, distance, heart rate, total calories burned, and fat calories burned.

31. The computer system as recited in claim 30, wherein said communication network is a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network, a wireless network, a packetized network, or a real-time network.

32. The computer system as recited in claim 30, further comprising a trainer module communication with said communication network, said trainer module comprising a second video camera and a second microphone, said trainer module being adapted to transmit at least one of second video data received from said second video camera and second audio data received from said second microphone.

33. The computer system as recited in claim 32, wherein said communication network delivers at least one of said second video data and said second audio data to said trainer module.

34. The computer as recited in claim 30, wherein said communication module is at least part time communication with a trainer module.