Method and apparatus for creating a virtual workout community
First Claim
1. A virtual workout community system for serving members that are not all working out at the same physical location, the system comprising:
- a server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having instructions stored therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of;
serving a schedule of available exercise programs to a first member at a first client computer;
in response to serving the schedule, receiving, from the client computer, a selection indicating a first exercise program from the schedule of available exercise programs, wherein the selection is associated with a defined start time at which the first exercise program is scheduled to begin and a program length;
receiving a request from the first member to the virtual workout community identify available workout buddies belonging to the virtual workout community for the first exercise program;
in response to receiving the request to identify available workout buddies, serving to the first client computer information identifying at least one other member recorded as having selected the first exercise program and being available as a workout buddy;
receiving a selection indicating selection of a second member of the virtual workout community selected from the information identifying at least one other member served to the first client computer;
reporting the selection of the second member by transmitting a message to an address for the second member;
maintaining records of attendance information indicating whether the first member and the second member are logged into the virtual workout community system within a limited time window defined to begin shortly before the defined start time and to end before the first exercise program is completed; and
reporting the attendance information to clients operated by the first member and the second member, respectively, in a format configured to encourage fulfillment of member commitments for participating in scheduled exercise programs with workout buddies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for creating a virtual online gym for providing members with a shared workout experience and decreasing the feeling of isolation when members are not all working out at the same physical location. The method including the steps of receiving a request for access to the virtual online gym and receiving a selection for a first exercise program from a plurality of available exercise programs from the first member. The method also includes the steps of determining a program length based on the selection of the first exercise program; presenting updated status information during a length of the program length; and, providing a notification when the program length has been reached. An apparatus and system for implementing the method are also disclosed.
163 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A virtual workout community system for serving members that are not all working out at the same physical location, the system comprising:
a server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having instructions stored therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of; serving a schedule of available exercise programs to a first member at a first client computer; in response to serving the schedule, receiving, from the client computer, a selection indicating a first exercise program from the schedule of available exercise programs, wherein the selection is associated with a defined start time at which the first exercise program is scheduled to begin and a program length; receiving a request from the first member to the virtual workout community identify available workout buddies belonging to the virtual workout community for the first exercise program; in response to receiving the request to identify available workout buddies, serving to the first client computer information identifying at least one other member recorded as having selected the first exercise program and being available as a workout buddy; receiving a selection indicating selection of a second member of the virtual workout community selected from the information identifying at least one other member served to the first client computer; reporting the selection of the second member by transmitting a message to an address for the second member; maintaining records of attendance information indicating whether the first member and the second member are logged into the virtual workout community system within a limited time window defined to begin shortly before the defined start time and to end before the first exercise program is completed; and reporting the attendance information to clients operated by the first member and the second member, respectively, in a format configured to encourage fulfillment of member commitments for participating in scheduled exercise programs with workout buddies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A virtual workout community system for members that are not all working out at the same physical location, the system comprising:
a server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having instructions stored therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of; receiving a request for access to the virtual workout community system from a first member at a first client computer; receiving a selection for a exercise program having a program length from a plurality of available exercise programs from the first member; receiving a request from the first member to schedule a future workout session with a second member of the virtual workout community system; and confirming a commitment to the future workout session from first and the second members; and updating respective virtual calendars of the first and second members on which the future workout session is scheduled, to indicate the commitment to the future workout session; and updating the respective virtual calendars a second time after the future workout session is completed to indicate whether each of the first and second members fulfilled the commitment by being logged into the virtual workout community system within a predetermined period less than the program length and beginning prior to a defined start time for the exercise program.
Specification