U.S. patent application number 12/031505 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-20 for user-defined environments for exercise machine training.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Bradley A. Crater, Todd J. Lopez, Grant S. Mericle, Benjamin T. Rau.
Application Number | 20090209393 12/031505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40955667 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090209393 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crater; Bradley A. ; et
al. |
August 20, 2009 |
USER-DEFINED ENVIRONMENTS FOR EXERCISE MACHINE TRAINING
Abstract
A method of implementing a user-defined environment for exercise
includes specifying a course route with a course development tool,
and designating additional parameters associated with the course
route. The course route and additional parameters support
simulation of exercise on a course corresponding to the specified
court route and additional parameters.
Inventors: |
Crater; Bradley A.; (Cary,
NC) ; Lopez; Todd J.; (Raleigh, NC) ; Mericle;
Grant S.; (Durham, NC) ; Rau; Benjamin T.;
(Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION;C/O: RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
10653 S. RIVER FRONT PKWY., STE. 150
SOUTH JORDAN
UT
84095
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
40955667 |
Appl. No.: |
12/031505 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/20 20130101;
A63B 2220/76 20130101; A63B 2071/065 20130101; A63B 2220/18
20130101; A63B 24/0084 20130101; A63B 22/0076 20130101; A63B
2220/803 20130101; A63B 2220/70 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101; A63B
2220/801 20130101; A63B 2071/0691 20130101; A63B 2220/72 20130101;
A63B 22/0023 20130101; A63B 2220/12 20130101; A63B 22/0056
20130101; A63B 2071/0644 20130101; G01S 19/19 20130101; A63B
22/0664 20130101; A63B 2220/75 20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B
22/0242 20130101; A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 2213/002 20130101;
A63B 2230/06 20130101; A63B 2225/64 20130101; A63B 2220/30
20130101; A63B 2230/207 20130101; A63B 2220/22 20130101; A63B
22/0605 20130101; A63B 2220/14 20130101; A63B 2071/0638
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/9 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A method of implementing a user-defined environment for exercise
in which environmental parameters are simulated with exercise
equipment, said method comprising: specifying a course route with a
course development tool, designating time dependent environmental
parameters and spatial environmental parameters associated with
said course route, in which said time dependent environmental
parameters comprise at least one of air temperature, humidity, wind
speed, wind direction, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, sun
position, and solar heat flux, and simulating said course route
with said exercise equipment, said time dependent environmental
parameters being varied as time progresses and said spatial
environmental parameters being varied according to a user's
simulated position on said course route.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: exporting data
corresponding to said course route and said time dependent
environmental parameters and said spatial environmental parameters
to an exercise machine; and simulating exercise on said course
using said exercise machine.
3-11. (canceled)
12. A system for creating and utilizing user-defined environments
for exercise machine training comprising: a course development
software tool stored on a computer-readable medium, said course
development software tool configured to allow a user to define a
course to be simulated with course parameters; said course
parameters comprising time dependent environmental parameters and
spatial environmental parameters, in which said time dependent
environmental parameters comprise at least one of air temperature,
humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, atmospheric
pressure, sun position, and solar heat flux, said course
development software tool being configured to export said course
parameters, and an exercise machine configured to receive said
course parameters, said exercise machine being configured to
simulate said course using said course parameters; in which said
time dependent environmental parameters are varied as time
progresses and said spatial environmental parameters are varied
according to a user's simulated position on said course route.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein said course development
software tool further comprises a mapping module and an elevation
profile.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said mapping module is
configured to receive waypoint data defining said course.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said waypoint data includes
metadata describing characteristics or actions to occur at said
waypoint.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said exercise machine is
further configured to take action based on said metadata associated
with a waypoint as said user passes said waypoint.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein said course development
software tool further comprises a weather module configured to
retrieve at least a portion of said time dependent environmental
parameters from an external weather database.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein said weather module is
configured to obtain historical or current weather parameters
associated with said course.
19-20. (canceled)
21. A system for creating and utilizing user-defined environments
for exercise machine training comprising: a course development
software tool stored on a computer-readable medium, said course
development software tool configured to allow a user to define a
course by entering or importing waypoint data, said waypoint data
defining said course, said software tool being configured to allow
said user to associate metadata with a waypoint, said metadata
comprising course information, identification of physical
facilities along said course, image data, video data, or audio
data; wherein said course development software tool further
comprises a mapping module, an elevation profile, and a weather
module; said weather module configured to allow the retrieval of
historical or current weather data, said weather data comprising
one or more of: temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity,
precipitation, and pressure. wherein said course development
software tool is further configured to export course data, said
course data comprising said waypoint data, said metadata, and said
weather data; an exercise machine configured to receive said course
data, said exercise machine being configured to simulate said
course using said course data.
22. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating a
historical date which said user-defined environment will
recreate.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising retrieving said time
dependent environmental parameters over said course route for said
historical date.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating a future
date which said user-defined environment will create, said course
development tool using predicted values of said time dependent
environmental parameters.
25. The method of claim 1, in which said time dependent
environmental parameters comprise air temperature, humidity, wind
speed, and wind direction.
26. The method of claim 25, in which said time dependent
environmental parameters further comprise sun position and solar
heat flux.
27. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a
velocity vector of a user exercising within said user-defined
environment, said velocity vector being used to calculate wind
velocity, wind direction, and solar flux relative to said user.
28. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring biological
parameters which measure a user's physical performance during said
simulation over said specified course route, said biological
parameters including at least one of: percent of VO2 Max, Lactic
acid, and blood oxygen.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying said
biological parameters on a graph against at least one of: elapsed
time or elapsed distance.
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising recording said
biological parameters and storing said biological parameters for
later comparison.
31. The method of claim 1, in which said spatial environmental
parameters include side-to-side inclination of said specified
course route.
32. The method of claim 1, in which said spatial environmental
parameters include elevation over said course, said elevation being
displayed on a graph which shows elevation as a function of
distance over said specified course route, in which said user's
progress through said specified course route is configured to be
marked on said elevation graph.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Individuals training for a foot race on a specific route may
not always have easy access to the physical terrain over which the
race takes place. Many race courses have high vehicle traffic that
is rerouted only during the actual race. Inclement weather may
prevent training. In addition, the race course could be a long
distance away from where the runner lives. For example, a runner
could live in California but want to run the Boston Marathon.
[0002] To improve their performance the competitors may want to
simulate a course that corresponds to a future or past event. For
example, race terrain can vary widely in difficulty due to
elevation changes. For example, the course for an upcoming race
could begin with relatively flat terrain and end with a large
uphill climb. This would be far more difficult than a predominately
flat course. To properly prepare for an upcoming race where it is
not possible to train on the actual race course, runners may want
to run a simulation of the race to improve their pacing or other
aspects of their strategy specific to that race course, such as
conserving enough energy to finish a final hill.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A system for creating and utilizing user-defined
environments for exercise machine training includes a course
development software tool which allows a user to define a course
and other parameters, the course and other parameters being
exported to an exercise machine, the exercise machine being
configured to simulate the course based on the received parameters.
A method of implementing a user-defined environment for exercise
machine training includes: a user entering a course route and
additional parameters through a web-based course development tool,
and exporting the course route and additional parameters to an
exercise machine which simulates the course.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of
the principles described herein and are a part of the
specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and
do not limit the scope of the claims.
[0005] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
screenshot of a course development software tool according to one
possible embodiment of the principles described herein.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a diagram of one illustrative embodiment of an
exercise machine configured to receive course data and reproduce
the course environment according to principles described
herein.
[0007] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing one illustrative
embodiment of data that could be generated by course development
software and exported to an exercise machine according to
principles described herein.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
display of an exercise machine console according to one possible
embodiment of the principles described herein.
[0009] FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
display of an exercise machine console according to one possible
embodiment of the principles described herein.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing one illustrative method for
creating a user-defined environment for an exercise machine
according to one possible embodiment of the principles described
herein.
[0011] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers
designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the
present invention may be embodied as a method, system, or computer
program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the
form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software
embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,
etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that
may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or
"system." Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a
computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having
computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.
[0013] Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may
be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may
be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,
apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include
the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a
portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable
compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device,
a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an
intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the
computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or
another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the
program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical
scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted,
or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then
stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a
computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that
can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the
program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution
system, apparatus, or device. The computer-usable medium may
include a propagated data signal with the computer-usable program
code embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part of a carrier
wave. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any
appropriate medium, including but not limited to the Internet,
wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.
[0014] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the
present invention may be written in an object oriented programming
language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the
computer program code for carrying out operations of the present
invention may also be written in conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The program code may execute
entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as
a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and
partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or
server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN)
or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an
external computer (for example, through the Internet using an
Internet Service Provider).
[0015] The present invention is described below with reference to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus
(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of
the invention. It will be understood that each block of the
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of
blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be
implemented by computer program instructions. These computer
program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general
purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable
data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the
instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or
other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for
implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or
block diagram block or blocks.
[0016] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular
manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable
memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction
means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart
and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0017] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or
other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented
process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or
other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the
functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
block or blocks.
[0018] The invention provides a way to use a course development
software tool to create data that will allow an exercise machine to
simulate the desired terrain and environmental conditions of a
specific race route or course. By way of example and not
limitation, an exercise machine may be a treadmill, bicycle,
aerobic elliptical, stepper, rowing device, or other machine
designed to allow training or exercise.
[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
screenshot (100) of a course development software tool. The
simulated screenshot (100) shows various functions of one exemplary
embodiment of course development software which may allow users to
define courses and environments for exercise machine training. The
course development software may include a plurality of buttons (140
through 155) which indicate whether a user desires to create a new
event (140), load an archived event (145), save an event (150), or
export an event (155). According to one exemplary embodiment, the
course development software may include a mapping module (110). The
primary utility of the mapping module (110) is to allow a user to
define a course which they desire to simulate on an exercise
machine. The map module (110) may display a variety of maps or
terrain representations to allow the user to select their desired
route. The displayed maps may be actual representations of portions
of the Earth's surface or may be computer generated terrain. The
mapping module (110) may include a plurality of mapping tools (115)
such as icons (120) which can be used to indicate various features
along the course. By way of example and not limitation, the icons
(120) may include starting and ending points for the course,
restroom facilities, water availability, first-aid stations, timing
stations, parking, and other features. The map tools (115) could
also include a variety of editing commands (125), such as create a
loop course, create an out-and-back course, undo, clear all, and
other commands.
[0020] A variety of other informational displays or functional
tools could be used to facilitate the use of the software by the
user. By way of example and not limitation, a route summary window
(135) could be displayed which gives summary or aggregated
information about the user-designed course, such as the total
distance of the course.
[0021] Additionally, the course development software may include an
elevation profile (160). The elevation profile (160) may include a
graph showing the change in elevation as a function of distance
over the designated race route. By way of example and not
limitation, the vertical axis of the graph may show elevation
changes and the horizontal axis may show distance. Additional
parameters such as the maximum elevation, minimum elevation,
accumulative ascent, and accumulative descent may also be shown or
indicated on the profile (160).
[0022] Weather data (165) may also be included in the course
development software. According to one exemplary embodiment, the
user designates a specific time period during which the exercise
will take place. The weather data (165) is then retrieved from a
data base and shows either the forecasted weather or historical
weather parameters. If forecasted weather is not available for the
specific location or time, historical averages or probable
environmental conditions could be used. The weather data could
include information relating to the time of day, amount of
sunlight, precipitation, humidity, wind, air temperature,
elevation, pressure variances, and other factors. The software tool
could be used to recreate the courses and weather of historical
races. By way of example and not limitation, the route and weather
conditions for the first Boston Marathon could be generated using
the course development software.
[0023] FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of one embodiment of an
exercise machine configured to receive course data and reproduce
the course environment. According to one exemplary embodiment, the
exercise machine is capable of changes in resistance, positive
slope, negative slope, side-to-side slope, and/or speed that
provide a simulation of the desired course. In FIG. 2, a user (200)
is exercising on a treadmill (210). The treadmill has a base (220),
a track (230) supported by the base, and a console (240). According
to one exemplary embodiment, the console comprises a large visual
display element (260), controls (270), and environmental control
elements (250). Controls (270) for the treadmill (210) could
include a variety of functions including incline angle, track
speed, on/off, etc. By way of example and not limitation,
environmental control elements (250) may include audio speakers,
fans, heaters, air conditioners, heat lamps or other environmental
control units. Additionally, exterior environmental controls could
be utilized to provide the desired level of environmental accuracy
to the simulated course.
[0024] FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrative diagrams showing one
exemplary embodiment of data that could be generated by course
development software and exported to an exercise machine. The data
produced by the course development software could be written in a
variety of formats including Extensible Markup Language (XML),
delimited text, proprietary or other formats. As shown in FIG. 3A,
course data (300) could comprise various elements such as distance
from the start point of the course (310), the elevation of at each
distance increment (320), the accumulated ascent (330), the
accumulated descent (340), waypoints (350) at various locations
along the course, and waypoint tags (360). Waypoint data may be
given in latitude and longitude in any format, such as might be
used by or received from a Global Positioning System (GPS). The
example shown in FIG. 3A is not intended to be exhaustive, but only
to show one example of data that could be exported by the course
development software. Other data could be included, such as slope
(pitch), side-to-side inclination (roll), ground characteristics,
etc.
[0025] GPS waypoints (350) could be included in the data to pin
point the location and direction of travel throughout the course.
The GPS waypoints could be generated by the course development
software or could be inputs from a GPS device to define the course.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the user clicks on a map
(110, FIG. 1) to define the course. The course development software
could translate the designated point on the map (110, FIG. 1) into
a GPS waypoint. The user could associate a symbol (120, FIG. 1)
with a GPS waypoint or other location on the course by selecting a
map tool icon (120, FIG. 1). By way of example and not limitation,
the user could designate a drinking fountain or restroom location
along a course. This information could be included as a waypoint
tag (360) associated with a particular waypoint or series of
waypoints.
[0026] According to one exemplary embodiment, the distance data
(310) and the corresponding elevation data (320) could be used to
calculate the slope at a specific part of the course. The exercise
machine (210, FIG. 2) could then adjust the slope of the track
(230, FIG. 2) to match the slope of the course, thereby simulating
actual course conditions. As the user moves through the course, the
distance from the starting point is progressively incremented. At a
specific distance within the course, specific actions could occur.
As was previously mentioned, the slope of the course could change.
Additionally, as the user passes waypoints, specific feedback could
be displayed. By way of example and not limitation, FIG. 3A shows
that when the user has traveled 0.04 miles from the starting point,
the user is at a waypoint "N 42 33.57 Latitude W 71 16.13
Longitude." This waypoint has a waypoint tag "Image2jpg." According
to one exemplary embodiment, this image could be displayed on the
visual display (260, FIG. 2). This image could be a visual
representation of the course at this waypoint. A visual display of
the actual course could assist the user in becoming familiar with a
course that is currently unavailable. As noted above, the course
could be unavailable because of distance, inclement weather,
traffic, etc. Other images could also be displayed. By way of
example and not limitation, the waypoint tags (360) could contain
visual images, audio clips, video clips, executable files, or other
data.
[0027] FIG. 3B shows one exemplary embodiment of environmental data
that could be exported by the course development software.
According to one exemplary embodiment, a time local to the course
being simulated (370) is displayed in a first column. The
temperature (372), humidity (374), and wind speed and direction
(376) associated with that time are displayed in corresponding
columns. For example, on a date of Nov. 30, 2007 at 1:00 pm local
time, the temperature on the course being simulated is or was
40.degree. F., the humidity was 45% and the wind was blowing at 10
miles per hour from the North-northwest.
[0028] The weather data may be historical, current, predicted or
user generated. For example, historical weather data could be used
to simulate a past race or other event. Historical weather data
could be archived or retrieved from a number of sources including
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration archives. Also,
in another alternative, the weather data used may be predicted
weather for the course being simulated at the time of an actual
future race. According to still another alternative embodiment, the
user could choose desired environmental parameters.
[0029] Environmental factors often play a critical role in races,
particularly long distance races such as marathons. Temperature,
humidity, altitude, wind and other factors can become significant
challenges for the contestants. Elevated temperatures can lead to
dehydration, while head winds can require a small but significant
increase in effort. According to one exemplary embodiment,
environmental controls external to the exercise machine are used to
more closely simulate the course conditions. For example, air
conditioners, heaters, heat pumps, fans, heat lamps, humidifiers,
dehumidifiers and other environmental control devices could be used
in the same room to help simulate weather conditions of the desired
course. In one embodiment, an exercise machine may be placed within
a general weather simulating room or chamber. The general weather
simulating room or chamber could, for example, be controlled by the
weather module.
[0030] Additionally, these environmental controls could be altered
as the user progresses through the course. Direction of travel can
be inferred from data produced by the course development software.
As the user progresses along the course route, the direction of the
simulated wind and radiant heating (simulating the sun) could be
altered to match the actual orientation of a user running on the
physical terrain. This allows for a more realistic course
simulation and provides an opportunity for the user to more fully
appreciate the challenges of the course. For example, the location
of the sun at the indicated local time and relative to the position
of the user on the racecourse can be simulated by heat lamps and
can change as the user progresses through the simulated course.
Both time and user progress on the course may change the relative
position of the simulated sunshine.
[0031] The weather data being used for the simulation may also
affect the heating that is used to simulate the sunshine. For
example, if the weather is cloudy, the amount of heat produced to
simulate the sunshine can be decreased accordingly.
[0032] FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
display of an exercise machine display (240). According to one
exemplary embodiment, the display (240) comprises an LCD screen or
other visual display (260). The LCD display can be programmed to
display a variety of motivational and informational elements to
assist the user. According to one exemplary embodiment, a map (400)
is displayed showing the course created or selected by the user
along with significant landmarks, waypoints, start and end points,
and other information. Below the map (400) an elevation profile
(410) could be displayed showing the user's progress throughout an
exercise period. Additionally, other information (420) such as
elapsed time, elapsed distance, lap times, and other data of
interest can be displayed. The visual display (260) could also be
utilized to display environmental parameters (430) such as
location, date, time, temperature, wind, and humidity.
[0033] A fourth "performance" module, (440) could be used to
display performance parameters that reflect the user's physical
state. By way of example and not limitation, many competition
runners are interested in a parameter referred to as % VO.sub.2
max. The VO.sub.2 max represents the maximum capacity of a body to
transport and utilize oxygen during exercise. It is also called
maximal oxygen consumption or maximal oxygen uptake and reflects
the aerobic capacity of an individual. VO.sub.2 max is reached when
oxygen consumption plateaus despite an increase in workload.
According to one exemplary embodiment, other parameters such as
heart rate, lactic acid percent, blood oxygen percent concentration
and other parameters could be displayed and graphed in the
performance parameter module. Depending on the desired training
profile, the physical parameters displayed in the performance
window (440) could be selected to meet a specific goal or reduce
the chance of injury. For example, the parameters displayed in the
performance module (440) could indicate that the user is running
faster than his condition allows. A relatively high heart rate,
high lactic acid %, and low blood oxygen concentration could
indicate that the user has entered an anaerobic stage that is not
sustainable over the remaining distance in the course.
[0034] FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing a simulated
display of an exercise machine console. According to this
embodiment, the console (240) displays a visual representation
(500) of the course over which the user is running. By way of
example and not limitation, the course may be displayed with video
footage that corresponds to the user's location on the course, by
using still pictures, or by using computer-generated simulations of
the course. For example, a video display of the course could assist
a marathon runner who is preparing for the Boston Marathon. By
seeing a visual representation of the course, a runner could
identify landmarks and aid stations that would assist him in
feeling comfortable in running the actual race being simulated at a
future date.
[0035] FIG. 6 is an illustrative flow chart showing one exemplary
method for creating a user defined environment for an exercise
machine. The user first enters the course information into the
course software development tool (600). Other parameters, such as
time, weather, and station data may be entered or retrieved (step
610). A variety of means could be used to enter the data. For
example, the data could be entered entirely through the interface
on the exercise machine itself, a computer in communication with
the exercise machine, a web interface, or the course information
could be retrieved from a mobile GPS unit. The data entered can be
for a hypothetical race course or an actual race course for which
information is available, or can be generated for a specific course
the user has in mind. The user may have traveled the course to be
simulated with a mobile GPS unit to generate some of the data. The
data may be for a specific upcoming race. Alternatively, as
indicated, some or all of the data can be retrieved from existing
sources rather than entered by the user. By way of example and not
limitation, the course development software tool may be a mashup
that merges data from a variety of sources. For example, the course
development software could incorporate geographic data, weather
data, topographic data, race information, visual representations of
the actual course, and other data from a variety of websites or
other databases.
[0036] Following the entry of the course route and other desired
parameters, the data could be formatted, saved, and/or exported
(step 620). The data could be formatted such that the data is
compatible with a specific exercise machine. According to one
exemplary embodiment, the data could be saved to an online
repository and, upon request for the data by a web enabled exercise
machine, the data could be formatted (if necessary) and transferred
to the requesting exercise machine. The data is then loaded onto
the exercise machine (step 630). By way of example and not
limitation, the data could be saved to a flash drive or other
storage medium and manually transferred to the exercise machine.
The exercise machine could copy the data into an internal memory or
simply access the data as required during use.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the course development
software resides on the exercise machine itself and no transfer of
information is required. In this embodiment, the display, such as a
liquid crystal display (LCD), may be touch-sensitive or another
input device may be provided. The exercise machine computer may be
Internet enabled and access a web portal that contains the course
development software. Alternatively, the course development
software could reside on the exercise machine and access online
data, such as map and weather information. The user directly enters
the course waypoints and other parameters, which are then saved on
the exercise machine.
[0038] When the appropriate course data has been provided by any of
the methods described herein, the user may then begin the
simulation of the course by instructing the exercise machine to
simulate the course that was entered or for which data was imported
(step 640). The simulation then begins.
[0039] According to one exemplary embodiment, additional sensors
are positioned on the user's clothing or person. By way of example
and not limitation, sensors could be placed on or in the shoes of
the user to gage parameters such as stride tempo, stride length,
impact, or other parameters. Other sensors such as heart rate
sensors could be worn or otherwise accessed by the user. These
sensors could wirelessly transmit data to the exercise machine,
which then displays the user's physical performance parameters
throughout the exercise period (step 650). Additionally, the
exercise machine can display distance and other time based
parameters as the user moves through the course (step 650). As
previously mentioned, these distance and time based parameters may
include elapsed distance, lap times, weather data, changes in
resistance or incline, changes in environmental parameters, motion
on a map, pictures or videos that correspond to the users location
on the course, etc.
[0040] When the exercise period or course simulation is complete,
the user can terminate the program by pushing a control button or
through other means (step 660). The exercise machine would then
cease operation and store the accumulated data, including the
present position of the user on the course being simulated. In this
manner, the user could break up long courses, such as a marathon or
mountain assent, into several different exercise sessions.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the exercise machine saves
the data onto a web repository, where it can be later retrieved by
the same or a different exercise machine.
[0041] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more
executable instructions for implementing the specified logical
function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative
implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of
the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in
succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or
the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,
depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted
that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart
illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams
and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special
purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions
or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer
instructions.
[0042] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0043] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0044] Having thus described the invention of the present
application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it
will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible
without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the
appended claims.
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