U.S. patent application number 11/377600 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for apparatus and methods for transmitting programming, receiving and displaying programming, communicating with exercise equipment, and accessing and passing data to and from applications.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nautilus, Inc.. Invention is credited to Yanzhen Qu.
Application Number | 20060240947 11/377600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36992480 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060240947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qu; Yanzhen |
October 26, 2006 |
Apparatus and methods for transmitting programming, receiving and
displaying programming, communicating with exercise equipment, and
accessing and passing data to and from applications
Abstract
A communication network for establishing communication channels
and distributing programming between and to exercise devices or
other equipment. The communication network includes server side
components for wirelessly transmitting and coding programming
(e.g., television programming) to the exercised devices, serving
applications, and establishing a network gateway. The communication
network further includes client side components, e.g., exercise
devices, for wirelessly receiving and decoding programming,
accessing and running applications, and establishing a network
connection by way of the server side gateway. The communication
network also establishes a platform for interaction between client
devices.
Inventors: |
Qu; Yanzhen; (Castle Rock,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORSEY & WHITNEY, LLP;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
370 SEVENTEENTH STREET
SUITE 4700
DENVER
CO
80202-5647
US
|
Assignee: |
Nautilus, Inc.
Vancouver
WA
|
Family ID: |
36992480 |
Appl. No.: |
11/377600 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60662326 |
Mar 16, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/1 ;
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/15 20130101;
G16H 20/30 20180101; G16H 40/67 20180101; A63B 2225/20 20130101;
A63B 22/0076 20130101; A63B 22/04 20130101; A63B 2230/06 20130101;
A63B 2024/0093 20130101; A63B 2225/02 20130101; H04N 21/43637
20130101; A63B 24/0084 20130101; A63B 2225/30 20130101; A63B
2225/50 20130101; A63B 22/0023 20130101; A63B 2071/0644 20130101;
H04W 84/12 20130101; A63B 22/0048 20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101;
A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 22/0664
20130101; A63B 24/0087 20130101; A63B 2225/305 20130101; H04N
21/43615 20130101; H04N 21/4122 20130101; H04N 21/4263
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/001 ;
482/008 |
International
Class: |
A63B 15/02 20060101
A63B015/02; A63B 71/00 20060101 A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A communication network for an exercise facility comprising: a
server including: a programming server adapted to receive a
programming signal comprising a plurality of channels of
programming signals, the programming server further adapted to tune
at least one channel of programming signal; an encoding server
adapted to receive the at least one channel and encode the at least
one channel of programming signal; one or more access points
adapted to transmit the at least one channel of programming signal;
and at least one client device including: an exercise device
comprising a processor, a display, and a wireless transceiver
adapted to receive, decode and display the at least one channel of
programming signal.
2. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the server further
comprises: an application server adapted to serve one or more
applications to the at least one client device.
3. The communication network of claim 1 wherein server further
comprises: a network connection adapted to provide a link to a
public or private network.
4. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the one or more
access points are configured according to the 802.11a wi-fi
standard.
5. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the one or more
access points are configured according to the 802.1g wi-fi
standard.
6. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the one or more
access points are configured according to the 801.11a and 802.11g
standards.
7. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the one or more
access points are configured to unicast the programming signal.
8. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the at least one
client device includes: a plurality of client devices arranged to
communicate with each other.
9. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the program server
comprises one tuner for each channel of programming signal intended
for display at a client device.
10. The communication network of claim 9 wherein the encoding
server includes an encoder for each channel of programming signal
intended for display at a client device.
11. The communication network of claim 2 wherein the client device
is further configured to provide communicate with the application
server.
12. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the client device
is configured to establish a public network connection.
13. An exercise device comprising: an exercise assembly for a user
to engage in exercise; a console comprising at least one processor
in communication with a wireless transceiver and a display; and
wherein the wireless transceiver is adapted to receive and transmit
signals.
14. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the wireless
transceiver is configured to transmit and receive wi-fi
signals.
15. The exercise device of claim 14 wherein the signals are encoded
programming signals.
16. The exercise device of claim 14 wherein the console further
includes a decoder adapted to decode the programming signals.
17. The exercise device of claim 15 wherein the programming signals
include television programming signals.
18. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the signals comprise
software application information.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a non-provisional application
claiming priority to co-pending provisional application No.
60/662,326 titled "Apparatus and Methods for Transmitting
Programming, Receiving and Displaying Programming, Communicating
With Exercise Equipment, and Accessing and Passing Data to and from
Applications," filed on Mar. 16, 2005, which is hereby incorporated
by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Aspects of the present invention involve wirelessly
networking a plurality of exercise devices to allow for
transmission and receipt of programming, communication and tracking
of fitness information, communication and tracking of information
concerning the exercise equipment, and the interactivity of
exercise device users.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Exercise equipment is typically focused on providing an
individual user with some form of exercise, but is not focused on
entertainment, news, network access, communication between users,
etc. Occasionally, a gym will place a television or television in
the work out area. However, users must share the television.
Moreover, gyms like exercise equipment, are typically not focused
on interaction between users, network access, user information, and
other sources of data and information. It is with some of these
issues in mind that various aspects of the present invention have
been developed.
SUMMARY
[0004] One aspect of the invention involves a communication network
for an exercise facility comprising a server and client. The server
includes a programming server adapted to receive a programming
signal comprising a plurality of channels of programming signals,
the programming server further adapted to tune at least one channel
of programming signal. The server further includes an encoding
server adapted to receive the at least one channel and encode the
at least one channel of programming signal. Finally, the server
includes one or more access points adapted to transmit the at least
one channel of programming signal. The client includes at least one
client device including an exercise device comprising a processor,
a display, and a wireless transceiver adapted to receive, decode
and display the at least one channel of programming signal. In one
arrangement, an access point array is employed and is arranged to
unicast the programming signal.
[0005] Another aspect of the invention involves an exercise
assembly for a user to engage in exercise. The exercise assembly
includes a console comprising at least one processor in
communication with a wireless transceiver and a display wherein the
wireless transceiver is adapted to receive and transmit
signals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a system layout, communication, and high-level
flow diagram of a computing system including a TV program server in
communication with a CODEC server, in communication with a
streaming media server coupled with a wireless router, along with
an application server and a web data gateway, and an exercise
device with a wireless transceiver in communication with an
embedded computer in communication with an LCD TFT display, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2A is a software diagram of a portion of the exercise
device processor and wireless transceiver and software diagram of
the access point;
[0008] FIG. 2B is diagram illustrating communication between client
groups by way of an access point array;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a television program server, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a CODEC server, in accordance
with various aspects of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an application server and/or
streaming media server, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computing system for an
exercise device, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a system diagram of a central data warehouse and
central management server in communication with a plurality of
computing systems connected by way of a network connection, such as
the internet;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a system adviser application, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a system adviser home page, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a screen shot of a system adviser facility home
page, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a screen shot of an equipment spreadsheet, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a screen shot of an equipment floor plan, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a screen shot of an equipment floor plan, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a screen shot of an equipment level usage, and
service and warranty information screen, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a screen shot of a usage and alert screen, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 16 is a screen shot of a usage and service and warranty
information screen, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 17 is a screen shot of a usage and equipment
documentation screen, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 18 is a screen shot of the default display shown on the
LCD of the exercise device, in accordance with various aspects of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 19 is a screen shot of the first screen of a fitness
adviser application, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 20 is a display screen for various selectable workouts
accessible by the select workouts button or fitness advisor button
of FIG. 17, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 21 is a screen shot illustrating one example of a heart
rate control workout where the user enters his weight, age, target
heart rate, heart rate control mode, and the workout time, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 22 is a screen shot of a single channel of video and
audio being presented on the display, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 23 is a screen shot of a display of a random workout,
in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
and
[0030] FIG. 24 is a screen shot of a trail run animation, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Aspects of the present invention involve a client-server
arrangement particularly oriented for deployment in an exercise
facility, but also deployable in other settings. The server, which
may involve one or more computers arranged to perform various
tasking is adapted to receive one or more channels of broadcast
programming, such as analog programming from a satellite, cable, or
other broadcast, and encode one or more of the plurality of
channels. The server is further adapted to wireless transmit a
signal or signals including the encoded channels. At the client
side, aspects of the present invention further involve an exercise
device, such as a treadmill, Treadclimber.TM., elliptical, stepper,
exercise bicycle, spinner, ski machine, skating machine, climbing
machine, rowing machine, strength training machine, or the like,
including a computer system and a display, which may be a touch
screen display, adapted to receive and decode the wireless encoded
channel signal or signals and display the one or more channels of
programming content.
[0032] Further, aspects of the invention involve a computer system,
such as a client device, adapted to display an exercise animation
configured to interface with an exercise program such that changing
visual representations of an exercise animation are accompanied by
corresponding changes to the configuration of the exercise device
to simulate the changing visual representations. For example, a
treadmill type exercise device may include a computer system
adapted to display a running trail animation. While the running
trail animation is presented to the user, when a hill or grade
change is displayed, an elevation control of the treadmill may be
automatically commanded to increase the treadmill grade to simulate
the animation grade. Conversely, should the user increase speed of
the tread belt, the animation pace will increase.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a client-server system diagram illustrating
several aspects of the present invention. On the server side 10, a
computing platform is wirelessly coupled with a plurality of client
side exercise devices 12. Each exercise device has an embedded
computer 14 and a wireless transceiver 16 adapted to receive and
transmit signals to and from the computing platform, process those
signals in the embedded computer, and display programming,
application, etc., on a display 18. The client-server arrangement
may be deployed in a health club, home exercise room, and/or other
facilities. The server side system 10 is adapted to receive
programming signals and wirelessly transmit a representation of the
programming signals to the exercise equipment. The computing
platform is also adapted to serve applications for access by the
exercise equipment, communicate with a centralized data warehouse
and application server, as well as provide an internet or network
gateway for the exercise equipment.
[0034] The server side system includes a television program server
02. The television program server receives a programming signal 22
from a programming source, such as a broadcast television source, a
cable programming source, a satellite programming source, or other
source of programming. As such, the program server may include a
cable port, antennae and associated receiver, satellite dish
connection and receiver hardware, etc. The programming signal may
include audio, video, test, control, embedded applications,
animation, and other data in analog or digital form. For example,
the programming signal may include one or more channels of
programming, such as the History Channel.TM., ABC, CBS, NBC, and
Fox News channels, etc., along with close caption data, vertical
blanking interval control codes, program guide data, etc. The
television program server receives the programming signal and
divides the signal into one or more programming channels along with
other data.
[0035] The server side platform further includes a CODEC (Code
Decode) server 24 adapted to receive the one or more programming
channels from the server and encode the programming information
into a Moving Picture Experts Group ("MPEG") format, Windows Media
format, H.263 format, H.264 format, or other standardized
digitization and/or compression format. In one particular example,
the CODEC server converts the programming information into MPEG-4
file or files. MPEG-4 files can include video, audio, text,
graphics, 2-D and 3-D animation, and other data commensurate with
the programming signals. In another example, the server encodes the
programming information into Windows Media 9 (WM9) format.
[0036] The encoded programming signals are transmitted to a
streaming media server 26 that converts the encoded signals into
packetized data that may be transmitted wirelessly by way of a
wireless router/Access Point 28. The wireless router, in one
example, transmits the packetized data over an IEEE 802.11 (WiFi)
wireless non-licensed radio frequency band. In one particular
example, wireless signals are transmitted according to the 802.11a
and 802.11g standards, which transmits data in 5.0 GHz and 2.4 GHz
bands at up to 108 Mbps. The 802.11b standard or other wireless
protocols, such as Bluetooth, may be employed alone or in
combination in other embodiments.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in one particular
implementation, programming signals are unicast to the client
devices. In contrast with a wired network, which can support TCP/IP
multicasting very well, multicasting has been found to be
troublesome in a wireless network. For example, when multicasting
video data (MPEG4 or other data format) with a bit rate larger than
1 Mbps, the client side sometimes shows a problematic amount of
mosaic (signs of severe interference) and the wireless access point
devices (AP), such as Netgear wpn824, wg602 and Orinoco ap-4000, do
not function reliably. Although functional, the performance is not
optimal. One reasons appears to be that existing WiFi standards do
not support multicasting well. Therefore, one possible convenient
path to support data communication between a large numbers of
concurrent clients through a WiFi wireless network is not
available, at least not in a cost effective or efficient
platform.
[0038] As such, one implementation employs a TCP/IP "unicasting"
arrangement, which provides each pair of communication parties
(access point and client) a dedicated "channel", for wireless
communication. To achieve supporting larger number of concurrent
users, in addition to adjust the bit rate of the source data (for
example increasing compress ratio on video data, or reducing the
video resolution ratio, etc.), a plurality of access points are
provided. The access points are tuned on all available 802.11g and
802.11a interference free radio frequency channels to utilize the
maximum available free-licensed physical radio frequency
channels.
[0039] Each AP is tuned to a specific radio frequency channel where
radio frequency interference with the neighboring AP does not
occur, and is assigned one unique identifier called as the SSID to
permit a group of clients (such as the consoles of a group of
exercise devices) to connect to a specified access point.
Therefore, each of the access points will be corresponding to one
and only one client group. Each client in a client group can
communicate with any other client (within or outside of the same
client group), thus providing for interaction between clients or
users associated with particular clients. Further, each client in a
client group can communicate with any application/functional server
connected on a wired LAN, though the access point corresponding to
the client group that the client belongs to.
[0040] FIG. 2A illustrates the server side and client side aspects
of the access point configuration. The server side resides on the
access point computer and the client side resides on the exercise
device computer 14. Each client device includes a client OS and
WLAN driver 11. The server includes BIOS 13, OS 15, LAN and WLAN
drivers 17, and access point communication bridger and coordinator
19. These software modules work together to ensure that if the
radio frequency channel or SSID of one of access points is changed,
all the other access points would modify the radio frequency
channel and SSID automatically to the next channel or SSID. For
example, if we change an access points radio frequency channel from
one radio frequency channel to another radio frequency channel, all
the other access point radio frequency channels will be
automatically reset into proper ones, and all the console side
parameters will also be automatically updated to the new ones
through the access points configuration coordinator client
software.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 2B, the access point communication bridger
functions as a "traffic police" to "bridge" the data flows between
access points. There are three different scenarios: bridging the
communication between the wired LAN and any of access points,
bridging the communication between any two access points, and
bridging any two clients belonged to the same client group to
communicate through to the same access point.
[0042] The server side computing platform may be adapted to receive
programming and other content from a variety of other sources 30,
such as DVD, etc. The server side platform further includes an
application server 32 coupled with the wireless router 28 and
further coupled with a web data gateway 34, the application server
is adapted to wirelessly serve various exercise related or other
applications to the exercise devices 12 by way of the wireless
router, and also provides a network connection, such as to the
Internet 36, by way of the web data gateway.
[0043] Each exercise device 12 includes the embedded computer 14
coupled with the active-matrix (TFT) liquid crystal display 18,
also referred to as a "touch screen", which is also coupled with
the wireless transceiver 16. In one example, the embedded computer
is a "single board computer" running Microsoft Windows CE.TM.
operating system. The wireless transceiver is adapted to receive
and/or communicate with the wireless router and/or access point 28
array of the server side system. The touch screen display is
adapted to display applications and/or programming information by
way of the embedded computer in the exercise device console, as
well as provide an input interface to the application and embedded
computer.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one example of the TV program
server 20, conforming to aspects of the present invention. The
programming server includes a microcontroller 38 coupled with flash
memory 40. The microcontroller provides control and programmability
to other components of the server. The flash memory may include
applications, data and other information to manage the program
server and microcontroller. The program server includes a coaxial
cable input interface 42 to receive a cable-based programming
signal. In one example, a single cable plug or cable is coupled
with the cable input interface, and a programming signal is
received by way of the cable. The cable interface is connected with
a signal divider and amplifier 44 that has a plurality of outputs
to one or more television tuners 46. The outputs of the signal
divider and amplifier are amplified versions of the programming
signal. Each television tuner 46 is adapted to extract one channel
of programming from the cable input. For example, a first
television tuner would have as its input all programming
information in the programming signal from the coaxial cable input,
and would have as its output one channel of programming
information. In one example, ten television tuners are provided in
the programming server; thus, ten possible channels of output
programming are possible from the program server. In another
example, four television tuners are provided in the programming
server; these four possible channels of output programming are
possible from the program server. Each television tuner is
connected with a corresponding television signal output interface
48. Each output interface may include multiple plugs for each
channel input, such as a video and audio output.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 4, the CODEC server 24 includes a
microcontroller 50, which may be any suitable CPU or processor, a
flash memory 52, and SDRAM 60. The microcontroller is adapted to
control and program various computing elements of the CODEC server
and is coupled with the flash memory, which includes data,
applications, and other information for running and managing the
CODEC server as well as programming various computing elements of
the CODEC server. The CODEC server includes a multiple channel
programming signal input interface 54 adapted to receive the four,
ten, or some other number of channels of programming from the
television program server 20. Each channel of programming
information is transmitted to an encoder 56. In one implementation,
there is a dedicated encoder for each channel. The encoder converts
analog channel programming information into MPEG-4 video/audio
encoded files. In another example, the encoder converts analog
channel programming into Windows.TM. Media 9 (WM9) format. Each
encoder is coupled with an Ethernet interface 58. In one example,
the CODEC server includes ten encoders 56 adapted to receive and
encode the ten separate channels of programming information from
the programming server. In another example, the CODEC server
includes four encoders adapted to receive and encode four channels
of programming information.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 1, the CODEC server 24 is in communication
with streaming media server 26. The encoded channels are
transmitted to the streaming media server that packetizes the data.
In one particular example, the streaming media server is a Windows
2003 Server machine running the Windows Media Services component.
The ten analog channels of programming are transmitted into the
CODEC server 24 at about 120 Mbps. The output from the encoders on
a per channel basis is about 3 Mbps. As such, the ten analog
channels at 120 Mbps are converted to ten encoded digital channels
at 30 Mbps. As mentioned above, the ten digitized and encoded
programming channels are coupled with the wireless router 28
adapted to wirelessly transmit data in accordance with the 802.11g
IEEE standard. The 802.11g standard can transmit data at about 54
Mbps, with about 20 Mbps of overhead. As such, the 802.11g standard
has about 34 Mbps of remaining bandwidth to transmit the ten
programming channels, which occupy a bandwidth of approximately 30
Mbps.
[0047] The server side computing system 10 further includes the
application server 32. The application server may be a personal
computer. Referring to FIG. 5, one example of an application server
conforming to aspects of the present invention is shown. The
application server includes a processing unit 62, hard drive
("HDD") 64, RAM 66, USB interface 68, DVD read/write memory
interface 70, Ethernet port or ports 72, RS-232 communication port
74, and IDE 76, as well as a power supply 78. The application
server diagram illustrates a functional diagram of a conventional
application server. The application server is coupled with the
wireless router and access point 28 and the web data gateway 34.
The application server is adapted to serve various applications
discussed in more detail below.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the embedded
computer 14 of an exercise device 12, conforming to aspects of the
present invention. The embedded computer may be housed in a console
or other portion of the exercise device. The embedded computer
includes a processor 80 coupled with memory 82, such as RAM and a
hard drive. The RAM includes various applications adapted to run
various components of the console and is in communication with the
processor. The console includes a wireless transceiver 84 adapted
to receive information from the wireless router 28 of the computing
system. In one example, the transceiver conforms to the IEEE
802.11g and 8022.11a WiFi standards. The console further includes a
decoder 86 coupled with the processor and the transceiver. The
decoder is adapted to receive wirelessly streamed programming
signals encoded by the CODEC server 24. The decoder translates the
streamed encoded programming information into a form that may be
displayed on the display 18. As mentioned above, in one example,
the display is an active matrix TFT type touch screen LCD display,
which provides a display platform for the programming as well as an
input and display interface for various applications that may be
received and/or accessed from the application server. The LCD
display is coupled with a touch screen control 90 and TFT LCD
control 92 the audio and video decoder 86 as well as the processor.
In certain embodiments, the display may be any type of display, and
need not be a touch screen.
[0049] The embedded computer may further include a motor controller
94 coupled with the processor. The motor control may be coupled
with any type of motor of the exercise device. For example, a
treadmill type exercise device may include a belt motor as well as
an incline motor, and a motor controller is adapted to send
appropriate signals to the belt speed controller as well as the
incline motor controller. In one example discussed below, the touch
screen display 18 includes interface buttons for controlling belt
speed as well as incline.
[0050] The embedded computer 14 further includes RS-232 96 and USB
98 interfaces for receiving and transmitting information to and
from the processor as well as other components of the embedded
computer. The embedded computer may further include video and audio
interfaces 100. The video and audio interfaces are adapted to
couple with the audio and video controller and display selected
channel information received by way of the streaming media server,
CODEC server and program server. The console may further include
heart rate detection 102 such as a "grip" heart rate or telemetric
heart rate detection arrangement. The processor may include
appropriate hardware and software to receive and compute heart
rates for a user grasping the contact heart rate.
[0051] FIG. 7 is a system level diagram showing the streaming media
server 26 and application servers 3 coupled by way of web data
gateways 24 to the Internet 36 or other network. The system further
includes a data warehouse 104 and management server 106, also
coupled to the network 36 by way of a web data gateway 34. The data
warehouse and management server may be centralized or may be
dispersed in a plurality of locations. The management server
includes entertainment content applications, and any number of
other possible applications, accessible by the computing systems at
the remote exercise facility. The data warehouse is adapted to
store and update data particular to various possible applications,
as well as possible exercise facilities.
[0052] FIGS. 8-17 illustrate various aspects of one particular
software application that runs on the application server 32 and/or
the management server 106. Data accessible by the application may
be stored locally at the application server or embedded computer
14, or stored at the central data warehouse 104. Referring first to
FIG. 8, a high level flow and block diagram of an exercise
management application is shown. The exercise management
application allows an exercise facility manager or other personnel
to track usage of exercise equipment, track and manage locations of
various exercise equipment, track and manage exercise equipment
maintenance, receive exercise equipment, alerts, documentation,
other exercise equipment and club related information. In one
example, the exercise management application is accessible by way
of a login 110, which requires a login name and identification. By
way of the login name and identification the user is associated
with one or more particular exercise facilities. After login, the
user selects a facility (112) if a plurality of facilities are
accessible through the exercise management application.
[0053] In one example, at login, the screen illustrated in FIG. 9
is displayed for the user. The exercise management application may
be accessed by way of a browser, such as Microsoft Internet
Explorer, NetScape, or the like. Referring again to FIG. 1, an
exercise facility may include one or more system communication
terminals 114, which include an embedded computer and wireless
transceiver, or which may be a conventional computer system having
wireless connectivity. Alternatively, the user may access the
exercise management application through any conventional computer
with network access. The user accesses the HTP network address for
the exercise management application and is wirelessly coupled with
the application server 32, or the management server 106 by way of a
network connection. After login, the user is presented with the
screen shown in FIG. 9.
[0054] Referring particularly to FIG. 9, in this example, the user
is logged into the system application as the XYZ gym administrator.
As the XYZ gym administrator, the user has access or is linked with
three separate exercise facilities. In the example of FIG. 9, the
facilities are located in New York, Denver, and Los Angeles. The
user may select any one of the three associated facilities to
obtain more information about the facility or the exercise
equipment in the facility. Referring to FIG. 8, the user selects a
facility (112) and is then linked with the facility's home page
(114). Referring again to FIG. 9, the user selects the New York
facility, and is presented with the screen shown in FIG. 10. The
screen of FIG. 10 is the "Home" page for the New York facility. The
Home page includes an equipment overview for the facility 116, and
equipment alerts 118 for the facility, as well as various links 120
to other pages discussed in more detail below.
[0055] The equipment overview section of the Home page includes a
listing of all the types of exercise equipment at the facility. In
the example of FIG. 10, the New York facility includes 18
treadmills, five ellipticals, two recumbent bikes, five upright
bikes, five steppers, and six IC bikes, as well as 25 strength
pieces. The equipment overview further includes utilization
tracking 122 for all of the pieces of equipment as well as each
piece of equipment individually. In the example of FIG. 10, overall
utilization of the facility equipment is 54.8%, treadmill
utilization is 56.2%, elliptical utilization is 47.6%, recumbent
bike utilization is 61%, upright bike utilization is 55%, stepper
utilization is 58.4%, IC bike utilization is 52%, and strength
utilization is 59%.
[0056] The Home page further includes equipment alerts 118, which
are subdivided into an alert type 124, date 126, equipment ID 128,
and a text message 130 associated with each alert. In the example
of FIG. 10, four types of alerts are shown, a user generated
service alert, a warranty expiration alert, a non-usage alert, and
an automated alert. Each alert associated with a single piece of
equipment with identification number 25.
[0057] Generally, an "alert" is a message, generated by the
embedded computer 14, remote application, and/or a user, associated
with a particular exercise device and providing a message regarding
the usage, maintenance, service, or other information about the
device. In one example, there are five possible types of service
alerts, including: warranty expiration alerts that advise the user
as to nearing parts and labor warranty expirations, which is
generated by the exercise management application logic and user
input data; a non-usage alert that advises the user when a certain
piece of equipment has not been used for an extended period of
time, which is generated by the exercise management application or
embedded and data collected wirelessly from equipment; a wear item
alert that advises the user when a "wearable item" (such as a
treadmill belt) has received usage equivalent to its' expected
lifespan, which is generated by the exercise management application
logic, user input data, and data collected wirelessly; user service
alerts that are generated by the user to alert staff or service
technicians to equipment that requires maintenance or service; and
automated alerts that advise the user when an error is generated
directly from the equipment console, which are generated by the
exercise management application and data collected wirelessly from
equipment.
[0058] By selecting the "View Equipment Listing" link 120B on the
Home page, the user is presented with the equipment spreadsheet
shown in FIG. 11. The equipment spreadsheet includes a listing of
each particular piece of exercise equipment in the facility, an
identification of the type of equipment (132), the equipment
manufacturer 134, the equipment model 136, the location of the
equipment 138, the serial number for the equipment 140, the
utilization for each piece of equipment 142, and the number of
alerts associated with the piece of equipment 146. A user may
select any piece of equipment listed on the spreadsheet to obtain
more information about that piece of equipment which is discussed
in more detail with respect to FIGS. 14-17.
[0059] Referring again to FIG. 10, the user may select a "view
facility floor plan" link 120C or referring to FIG. 11, the user
may select the equipment floor plan tab 120C at the top of the
screen, to access the equipment floor plan screens shown in FIGS.
12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a floor plan layout for a room in the New
York facility titled "Cardio Room 1". The floor plan shows the
arrangement and type of each piece of exercise equipment located in
that room. FIG. 13 is a layout of a room in a New York facility
referred to as the "Strength Room". Again, the floor plan includes
a layout of each piece of strength type equipment located in the
room, as well as an identification of each piece of equipment in
the room. In one example, the layout includes visual identifiers
148 for each piece of equipment, which further serve as links to
further information about each piece of equipment. By selecting any
of the images, a user is presented with one of the screens shown in
FIGS. 14-17. With the layout, a user may manage his facility and
usually access further information about all equipment in the
facility.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 14-17, screen shots of examples of
equipment specific information are shown. FIG. 14-17 include a
usage window 150 with usage information arranged on a day-to-day
basis for the elliptical exercise device associated with the
screen. As shown, on Monday the usage of the exercise device is
70%, on Tuesday the usage is 95%, on Wednesday the usage is 61%, on
Thursday the usage is 64%, on Friday the usage is 78%, on Saturday
the usage is 95%, and the Sunday usage is also provided but not
shown in the Figures.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 14, the bottom section of the screen
includes four tabs, including: an alert tab 152, a service and
warranty information tab 154, a service history tab 156, and an
equipment documentation tab 158. In FIG. 14, the service and
warranty information tab 154 has been selected, and various contact
information for service and warranty information is shown.
Referring to FIG. 15, the alert tab 152 has been selected, and
alerts for the elliptical exercise device are shown in the window.
For this piece of exercise equipment, there are six alerts shown
and each alert is associated with an alert type, a date, a
priority, a description, a dismiss and e-mail column. Priorities
may be arranged as red, yellow or green, with red being the highest
priority and a suggested immediate action, a yellow alert relating
to something that needs to be done soon but not immediately or
perhaps not requiring attention but simply information, and a green
being an alert but not associated with any sort of possible problem
with the device. A description is associated with each alert to
more particularly describe the alert types. For example, the user
generated alert indicates that the device "needs cleaning". As such
a user has entered this information indicating that the exercise
device requires cleaning. Other alert descriptions are also
shown.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 17, the equipment documentation tab 158
has been selected and the window includes a plurality of selectable
document links 160, each including a document type indicator, and a
name of a document. In this example, two PDF type files are
associated with an owner's manual and technical drawings
respectively and an Excel spreadsheet is associated with a parts
list. By selecting the PDF files or the Excel.TM. spreadsheet, the
exercise management application automatically launches the
appropriate software and loads those documents for viewing by the
user. The service history tab, while not shown, includes an input
for each service operation performed on the exercise device and a
description thereof along with a date.
[0063] FIG. 18 is a screen shot of the default display shown on the
LCD of the exercise device. The default screen includes a fitness
adviser button 162, a select workout button 164, and a TV button
166. The fitness adviser button launches a fitness adviser
application from the application server of the computer system. The
select workout button provides access to various preprogrammed
possible workouts as well as user customizability of the workout,
and the TV button launches a television selection interface which
allows the user to display one of the plurality of possible
channels being wirelessly strained from the computer system.
[0064] FIG. 19 is a screen shot of the first screen of a fitness
adviser application. To enter the fitness adviser application the
user enters a PIN number by way of the illustrated keypad. The
user's PIN number is associated with a particular user.
[0065] FIG. 20 is a display screen for various selectable workouts
168 accessible by the select workouts button or fitness advisor
button of FIG. 17. Numerous possible workouts may be configured.
Additionally, the types of workouts may depend upon the type of
exercise equipment in which the touch screen control and embedded
computer are implemented. In this example, the user may select from
a five minute demonstration of a treadmill workout, a manual
workout where the user manually selects both an incline and/or the
speed, an interval workout that is a preset interval workout, a
random workout, and a heart rate control workout that adjusts both
speed and/or incline based upon the user's heart rate. A fitness
test 170 may also be provided by way of the fitness test
button.
[0066] FIG. 21 is a screen shot illustrating one example of a heart
rate control workout where the user enters his weight, age, target
heart rate, heart rate control mode, and the workout time. The
heart rate control mode may be either based upon speed or incline,
in this example. The user grasps the grip heart rate electrodes on
the console or wears a telemetric strap, which sends signals to the
embedded computer or dedicated processor to calculate the user's
heart rate. The system then adjusts either speed or incline to
automatically adjust the user's heart rate so that it is about the
target heart rate. Thus, if the user's heart rate increases above
the target heart rate, then the system will decrease the speed,
incline, or both to attempt to bring the user's heart rate down. In
contrast, if the user's actual heart rate is below the target heart
rate, then the system will adjust the speed, incline, or both to
increase the user's heart rate. The same basic heart rate control
may be used in other types of exercise devices with the appropriate
controls.
[0067] FIG. 22 is a screen shot of a single channel of video 172
and audio being presented on the display. In the center of the
display, the programming is presented. To the left of the display
user workout criteria are displayed, including: time of workout,
speed, incline, heart rate, distance, and calories burned. The
right side of the screen includes programming control buttons with
an up/down channel increment button which allows the user to select
from a plurality of possible channels. The programming control
buttons also include up/down volume controls.
[0068] FIG. 23 is a screen shot of a display of a random workout.
The center of the screen illustrates elevation times that are
adjusted automatically at preset cycles. The left side of the
screen includes displays for the various workout characteristics.
The center bottom portion of the screen includes line graphs that
compare heart rate with belt speed and elevation. Finally, the
right side of the screen is a trail run button 174.
[0069] The trail run button accesses a video animation 176 that is
streamed to the exercise device by way of the other program source
section 30 of the computing system. Referring again to FIG. 1, the
computing system may include other program sources accessible by
the CODEC server. Program sources include radio, MP3 files,
training videos, programming videos, programming provided on DVD or
other memory formats. In this example, animation is stored in the
programming source section of the computing system and is
wirelessly streamed out to the various exercise devices in the
facility. It is possible to buffer the animation into the embedded
computer of an exercise device or store the animation locally. The
animation may be simply a visual implementation, or may include
related control functionality that modifies the performance of the
exercise device in accordance with the animation shown.
[0070] In one particular example, as shown in FIG. 24, a trail run
is provided on an exercise treadmill, and the trail run includes
elevation changes. As the animation video is run, the trail run
changes and as elevation changes, control codes are included to
automatically incline the treadmill deck in accordance with the
animation. If the user increases the speed of the treadmill deck,
the control codes are included to increase the pace of the
animation to simulate running faster on the trail. The animation
may further be provided with branches 178 in which the user is able
to select a turn on the trail by selecting onscreen arrow keys.
Each branch of the trail may present a different workout to the
runner providing an enhanced workout experience as well as a more
real life workout experience. The virtual world of the trail run
may be appropriately modified for the particular exercise device
being employed. For example, in an exercise bicycle, the resistance
on the wheels may be appropriately modified based on the incline of
the road where in an upward grade increases resistance on the wheel
when a downward grade allows more free wheeling. A virtual world
animation type platform as shown in FIG. 24 may also facilitate
multiple party workouts, races, and other interactive activities
which may be communicated between exercise devices either within a
facility by way of wireless interconnections or between facilities
and users therein by way of the network connection.
[0071] The fitness adviser application may also manage workouts and
store data of workouts for each user. For example, the user may
customize and store a workout by way of the fitness adviser
application, and during the customized workout the fitness adviser
application periodically corrects user workout data and stores that
data so that the user has a stored profile of various workouts that
have been performed. Further, other characteristics of the user
such as weight, heart rate and the like may be stored so that the
user can track overall fitness progress. Further, the fitness
adviser application may include graphical information of past
workouts for the user and may include integrated e-mail so that the
user can send and receive e-mail by way of the console and receive
specific fitness type e-mail through a prescription service.
[0072] The system or the exercise management functionality and/or
the embedded computer of the exercise equipment may be adapted to
receive and/or automatically upgrade system software for the
exercise machine by way of the wireless network and/or the
centralized application server. With the networking connections
associated with the exercise equipment, voice over IP may also be
integrated directly into the exercise machine providing a way for
the user to verbally communicate with other users in the club, or
other people outside the club, when the user establishes a voice
over IP connection.
[0073] The fitness adviser and exercise management applications as
well as the hardware components of the exercise machine and the
computing system may be deployed in accordance with CSAFE
(Communications Specification for Fitness Equipment) standard or
compatibility. This allows the exercise equipment to communicate
with other CSAFE compatible components. The data gateway server
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 may be deployed as a software
application running on a multipurpose server or as a standalone
server, and may communicate with the network via the HTTP or HTTPS
protocols.
[0074] Various aspects of the present invention, whether alone or
in combination with other aspects of the invention, may be
implemented in C++ code running on a computing platform operating
in a Linux, Unix, Windows, or other environment. However, aspects
of the invention provided herein may be implemented in other
programming languages adapted to operate in other operating system
environments. Further, methodologies may be implemented in any type
of computing platform, including but not limited to, personal
computers, mini-computers, main-frames, workstations, networked or
distributed computing environments, computer platforms separate,
integral to, or in communication with charged particle tools, and
the like. Further, aspects of the present invention may be
implemented in machine readable code provided in any memory medium,
whether removable or integral to the computing platform, such as a
hard disc, optical read and/or write storage mediums, RAM, ROM, and
the like. Moreover, machine readable code, or portions thereof, may
be transmitted over a wired or wireless network.
[0075] Various examples of "screen shots" are provided to
illustrate particular features and aspects of embodiments of the
invention. These screen shots are meant to only illustrate
platforms for communicating with a computer platform, and/or
applications implemented to run on the computer platform, and are
not meant to limit the invention to the particular screens or
arrangements of screens described herein. Other computer
communication mediums may be used, such as "hot keys," line entry,
and the like, without departing from the invention subject matter
defined in the claims.
[0076] Some aspects of the present invention are illustrated in a
client-server relationship; however, certain aspects of the
invention may not be implemented as a "server" or as "client".
[0077] Although various representative embodiments of this
invention have been described above with a certain degree of
particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous
alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the
spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the
specification and claims. In methodologies directly or indirectly
set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one
possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will
recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or
eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope
of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained
in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings
shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.
* * * * *