Fitness applications of a wireless device

• US 7,811,201 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mikan, Jeffrey, Cenciarelli, Fulvio, Lewis, John, McNamara, Justin, Kefalas, Anastasios L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US11/615,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 482 4- 9, 482/1, 482/900, 482/908
• US Class Current: 482/4
• 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 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00

Abstract

Methods and wireless devices for use in connection with a fitness program and/or an exercise apparatus. In one such method, fitness information is stored in a memory and operative communication is established with an exercise apparatus. At least a subset of the fitness information is sent to the exercise apparatus to facilitate a user workout using the exercise apparatus. Exercise information corresponding to the user workout is received from the exercise apparatus, and the at least a subset of the fitness information is updated in the memory according to the received exercise information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing fitness information applicable to a user on a portable wireless communications device, wherein the fitness information comprises exercise apparatus settings, user fitness information, user fitness tracking data, or a combination thereof;

accessing the fitness information from the portable wireless communication device;

establishing operative communication between an exercise apparatus and the portable wireless communication device;

sending at least a subset of the fitness information from the portable wireless communication device to the exercise apparatus to facilitate a user workout using the exercise apparatus, wherein the at least a subset of the fitness information comprises a first setting of the exercise apparatus;

receiving exercise information on the portable wireless communication device corresponding to the user workout from the exercise apparatus, wherein the exercise information comprises results of a workout, changed exercise apparatus settings, changed user fitness information, or a combination thereof;

updating, during the workout, the at least a subset of the fitness information responsive to the received exercise information; and

storing only in the portable wireless communications device, during the workout at least a subset of the updated fitness information for a subsequent workout, wherein the at least a subset of the updated fitness information comprises a second setting of the exercise apparatus obtainable only from the portable wireless communications device, during the subsequent workout.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback regarding the user workout to the user on the portable wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing feedback further comprises providing statistical information relating to the workout.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the exercise information comprises a change during the user workout to the at least one setting of the exercise apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting information to the user during the user workout on the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the presented information comprises any of:

user workout progress, workout-related encouragement, and user workout statistics.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising planning a future workout according to the updated at least a subset of the fitness information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communication is established with the exercise apparatus by way of one of a wired and wireless connection.

9. A portable wireless communications device, comprising:

a memory that stores fitness information and updated fitness information, wherein the fitness information comprises exercise apparatus settings, user fitness information, user fitness tracking data, or a combination thereof, wherein at least a subset of the fitness information and at least a subset of the updated fitness information is related to an exercise apparatus and applicable to a user;

a user interface module that permits user interaction with the portable wireless device, wherein the user interface module receives from a user at least a subset of the fitness information before a user workout, and wherein the user interface module receives from the user the updated fitness information during the user workout; and

an exercise communication module, wherein the exercise communication module communicates with the exercise apparatus and sends the at least a subset of the fitness information to the exercise apparatus before the user workout to facilitate the user workout, wherein the at least a subset of the fitness information comprises a first setting of the exercise apparatus, wherein the exercise communication module communicates with the exercise apparatus and sends the at least a subset of the updated fitness information during the user workout, wherein the at least a subset of the updated fitness information comprises a second setting of the exercise apparatus obtainable only from the portable wireless device, during a subsequent workout, and wherein the exercise communication module receives exercise information corresponding to the user workout from the exercise apparatus, wherein the exercise information comprises results of a workout, changed exercise apparatus settings, changed user fitness information, or a combination thereof.

10. The portable wireless device of claim 9, wherein the exercise communication module further receives exercise information relating to the user workout.

11. The portable wireless device of claim 10, further comprising a processor that updates the stored at least a subset of the fitness information according to the received exercise information.

12. The portable wireless device of claim 10, wherein the user interface module provides feedback to the user according to the received exercise information.

13. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the feedback comprises statistical information relating to the workout.

14. The portable wireless device of claim 10, wherein the received exercise information comprises a change during the user workout to the at least one setting of the exercise apparatus.

15. The portable wireless device of claim 9, wherein the exercise communication module establishes communication with the exercise apparatus by way of one of a wired or wireless connection.

16. The portable wireless device of claim 9, wherein the exercise communication module and the wireless communication module are the same module.

17. The portable wireless device of claim 9, further comprising a housing, wherein the housing is adapted to physically couple the wireless device to the exercise apparatus.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving fitness information from a remote device on a portable wireless device, wherein the fitness information comprises exercise apparatus settings, user fitness information, user fitness tracking data, or a combination thereof;

storing the fitness information in a memory of the portable wireless device;

presenting at least a subset of the fitness information to user on the portable wireless device;

sending at least a first subset of the fitness information from the portable wireless device to the exercise apparatus, the at least a first subset of the fitness information comprising the first setting of the exercise apparatus;

receiving exercise information relating to the user workout on the portable wireless device, the exercise information comprising a second setting of an exercise apparatus for a subsequent workout, wherein the exercise information comprises results of a workout, changed exercise apparatus settings, changed user fitness information, or a combination thereof;

updating the fitness information stored in the memory responsive to the received exercise information, generating updated fitness information; and

sending at least a subset of the updated fitness information from the portable wireless device to the exercise apparatus, the at least a subset of the updated fitness information comprising the second setting of the exercise apparatus for the subsequent workout obtainable only from the portable wireless device, during the subsequent workout.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing feedback regarding the user workout to the user.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing feedback regarding the user workout to the user.