U.S. patent application number 13/364665 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for fitness course guidance system for integrating identification capability into personal device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wei-Lung Chen, Che-Wei SU, Hsiao-Yu Wang. Invention is credited to Wei-Lung Chen, Che-Wei SU, Hsiao-Yu Wang.
Application Number | 20130203557 13/364665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48903393 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130203557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SU; Che-Wei ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
FITNESS COURSE GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING IDENTIFICATION
CAPABILITY INTO PERSONAL DEVICE
Abstract
A fitness course guidance system for integrating identification
capability into a personal device includes: a plurality of fitness
devices each including a controller, an identifying device, and a
first wireless interface; at least one personal device including a
course guidance program, at least one fitness course, a tag, and a
second wireless interface, being positioned on one of the fitness
devices to allow the fitness device to identify the at least one
personal device, executing the course guidance program to use the
at least one fitness course, issuing an instruction to a user, and
receiving the use status and related data of the fitness devices;
and a server electrically connected to the controller of the
fitness devices and the at least one personal device in a wired or
wireless manner and adapted to collect the use status of the
fitness devices.
Inventors: |
SU; Che-Wei; (Taichung,
TW) ; Chen; Wei-Lung; (Taichung, TW) ; Wang;
Hsiao-Yu; (Taichung, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SU; Che-Wei
Chen; Wei-Lung
Wang; Hsiao-Yu |
Taichung
Taichung
Taichung |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
48903393 |
Appl. No.: |
13/364665 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/7253 20130101;
G16H 20/30 20180101; H04M 2250/02 20130101; H04M 2250/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/4 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. A fitness course guidance system for integrating identification
capability into a personal device, the fitness course guidance
system comprising: a plurality of fitness devices each comprising a
controller, an identifying device, and a first wireless interface,
the controller being electrically connected to the identifying
device and the first wireless interface and adapted to send out a
use status and related data of the fitness devices; at least one
personal device carried by a user, being capable of computing and
processing, comprising a course guidance program, at least one
fitness course, a tag, and a second wireless interface, being
positioned on one of the fitness devices to allow the identifying
device of the fitness device to identify the tag, electrically
connected to the fitness device via the second wireless interface
and the first wireless interface of the fitness device, issuing the
user an instruction based on the at least one fitness course
according to an availability of the fitness devices, and receiving
the use status and related data from the controller of the fitness
devices, so as to execute the course guidance program and thereby
determinate a state of execution of the fitness course; and a
server electrically connected to the controller of the fitness
devices and the at least one personal device in a wired or wireless
manner and adapted to collect the use status of the fitness
devices.
2. The fitness course guidance system of claim 1, wherein the
identifying device is spaced apart from the tag by a distance of
less than 10 cm while identifying the tag.
3. The fitness course guidance system of claim 2, wherein the
identifying device and the tag are radio frequency identification
(RFID) devices.
4. The fitness course guidance system of claim 2, wherein the
identifying device and the tag are near field communication (NFC)
devices.
5. The fitness course guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first
wireless interface and the second wireless interface are Bluetooth
interfaces or radio frequency interfaces.
6. The fitness course guidance system of claim 1, wherein the
fitness devices each further comprise an identification platform
for holding the at least one personal device and then identifying
the at least one personal device.
7. The fitness course guidance system of claim 1, wherein the at
least one personal device is a smartphone or a personal digital
assistant (PDA).
8. The fitness course guidance system of claim 1, wherein the at
least one said personal device is stored therein with a plurality
of multimedia files, and the fitness devices each comprise a
playing device, wherein the at least one personal device is
positioned on one of the fitness devices and sends the multimedia
files to the fitness device via the two wireless interfaces,
wherein, after the fitness device has received the multimedia
files, the playing device plays the multimedia files.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to fitness devices, and more
particularly, to a fitness course guidance system for integrating
identification capability into a personal device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Clients working out with fitness equipment in a gymnasium
usually use the fitness equipment in sequence according to the
fitness courses recommended by a fitness coach with a view to
achieving the goal and effect of fitness training.
[0005] However, few clients can afford to hire a personal coach who
gives instructions promptly at any time. Instead, most clients hire
a coach who delivers to the clients instructions on the fitness
courses before the clients look for related fitness equipment on
their own to start their workout sessions. In such a situation, the
clients judge on their own whether they have completed a fitness
course with a specific exercise device--for example, whether they
have met workout time requirements, exercise repetition
requirements, and exercise strength requirements, and the clients
operate the fitness equipment at will. Those clients who are lazy
or cannot wait for the end of a workout session are likely to
reduce the exercise repetition frequency or shorten the workout
session, and in consequence the clients fail to achieve the goal
and effect of fitness training or end up with an unsatisfactory
effect of fitness training.
[0006] Taiwan Patent M344892 discloses an exercise device in
interactive connection with a medical service platform. The
exercise device applies identification and data transmission
technology. When operated by a user, the exercise device identifies
the user and sends to an external medical service platform the data
pertaining to the user's use of the exercise device and the user's
physiological condition.
[0007] The aforesaid prior art merely teaches sending to a medical
service platform the data pertaining to the user's use of the
exercise device and the user's physiological condition; in other
words, it discloses a technique whereby a medical service platform
takes care of the user. However, according the aforesaid prior art,
communication is restricted to between the exercise device and the
medical service platform. Hence, the aforesaid prior art does not
enable a fitness coach to take the initiative in giving a
suggestion or a reminder to the user of exercise device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a primary objective of the present invention to
provide a fitness course guidance system for integrating
identification capability into a personal device, wherein the
fitness course guidance system comprises a personal device for
providing course guidance to users using fitness devices and
thereby allowing the users to complete a fitness course
correctly.
[0009] In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the
present invention provides a fitness course guidance system for
integrating identification capability into a personal device. The
fitness course guidance system comprises: a plurality of fitness
devices each comprising a controller, an identifying device, and a
first wireless interface, the controller being electrically
connected to the identifying device and the first wireless
interface and adapted to send out a use status and related data of
the fitness devices; at least one personal device carried by a
user, being capable of computing and processing, comprising a
course guidance program, at least one fitness course, a tag, and a
second wireless interface, being positioned on one of the fitness
devices to allow the identifying device of the fitness device to
identify the tag, electrically connected to the fitness device via
the second wireless interface and the first wireless interface of
the fitness device, issuing the user an instruction based on the at
least one fitness course according to a motion mode of the fitness
devices, and receiving the use status and related data from the
controller of the fitness devices, so as to execute the course
guidance program and thereby determinate a state of execution of
the fitness course; and a server electrically connected to the
controller of the fitness devices and the at least one personal
device in a wired or wireless manner and adapted to collect the use
status of the fitness devices. Accordingly, the present invention
discloses that a personal device gives course guidance to a user
while the user is working out with fitness devices, such that the
user can complete a fitness course correctly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The structure and features of the present invention are
hereunder illustrated with preferred embodiments in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, showing a fitness device equipped with a
playing device, and a personal device provided with multimedia
files.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, a fitness course guidance system 10 for
integrating identification capability into a personal device
essentially comprises a plurality of fitness devices 11, at least
one personal device 21, and a server 31.
[0014] The fitness devices 11 each comprise a controller 12, an
identifying device 14, and a first wireless interface 16. The
identifying device 14 and the first wireless interface 16 are
electrically connected to the controller 12. The controller 12
sends out the use status and related data of the fitness devices
11. In this embodiment, the fitness devices 11 each further
comprise an identification platform 18. The fitness devices of the
present invention include, for example, a treadmill, a fitness
bicycle, a chest expander, and a step exercise device.
[0015] This embodiment is exemplified by one said at least one
personal device 21. The personal device 21 is adapted to be carried
by a user and exemplified by a smartphone or a personal digital
assistant (PDA). In this embodiment, the personal device 21 is
exemplified by a smartphone. The personal device 21 is capable of
computing and processing, and comprises a course guidance program
22, at least one fitness course 24, a tag 26, and a second wireless
interface 28. This embodiment is exemplified by one said at least
one fitness course 24. The personal device 21 is positioned on the
identification platform 18 of the fitness device 11, such that the
tag 26 can be identified by the identifying device 14 of the
fitness devices 11. Furthermore, the personal device 21 is
electrically connected to the fitness devices 11 via the second
wireless interface 28 and the first wireless interface 16 of the
fitness devices 11. To execute the course guidance program 22, the
personal device 21 issues the user an instruction based on the at
least one fitness course 24 according to a motion mode of the
fitness devices 11 and receives the use status and related data
from the controller 12 of the fitness devices 11 so as to
determinate the state of execution of the fitness course 24.
[0016] In this embodiment, the identifying device 14 of the fitness
devices 11 is spaced apart from the tag 26 by a distance of less
than 10 cm while identifying the tag 26. The identifying device 14
and the tag 26 are radio frequency identification (RFID) devices or
near field communication (NFC) devices. In this embodiment, the
identifying device 14 and the tag 26 are RFID devices. In this
embodiment, the first wireless interface 16 and the second wireless
interface 28 are Bluetooth interfaces or radio frequency interfaces
and are illustrated with Bluetooth interfaces.
[0017] The server 31 is electrically connected to the controller 12
of the fitness devices 11 and the personal device 21 in a wired or
wireless manner. The server 31 collects the use status and related
data of the fitness devices 11. Regarding the collection operation,
it can be directly carried out by the fitness devices 11.
Alternatively, it is feasible that the personal device 21 collects
the use status and related data of the fitness device 11 on which
the personal device 21 is positioned.
[0018] The framework of this embodiment is described above. The
operation state of this embodiment is described below.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, before the commencement of the fitness
course 24, the user must have the personal device 21 ready to
operate, that is, having installed the fitness course 24 and the
course guidance program 22 on the personal device 21. The personal
device 21 gets electrically connected to the server 31 in a wired
or wireless manner as soon as the user enters the gymnasium.
[0020] To begin a workout session, the user executes the course
guidance program 22 by means of the personal device 21 to access
the intended fitness course 24, and employs the first and second
wireless interfaces 16, 28 to inform the server 31 that there is a
client who is going to start taking the fitness course 24. The
server 31 collects data related to the use status of all the
fitness devices 11 currently connected and sends the data to the
personal device 21. Upon receipt of the data, the personal device
21 determines an available one of the fitness devices 11 and
informs the user to undertake the workout with the available
fitness device 11.
[0021] At this point in time, the user approaches the available
fitness device 11 and puts the personal device 21 on the
identification platform 18 of the fitness device 11. Then, the
fitness device 11 identifies the personal device 21 instantly and
informs the personal device 21 that the identification procedure is
done. As a result, the personal device 21 can determine that the
user has already arrived at the correct fitness device 11 and is
ready for exercise, and that the course guidance is going to
resume.
[0022] Afterward, the course guidance program 22 makes reference to
the fitness course 24 and instructs the user to use the fitness
device 11. Then, the fitness device 11 sends the use status and
related data to the personal device 21 and the server 31, so as to
allow the personal device 21 to determine the state of execution of
the fitness course 24. Furthermore, the personal device 21 monitors
the user's exercise status and gives the user a timely prompt or
suggestion (such as "you are running too fast," "you are running
too slow", "you are stretching your muscles too hard," or "you are
not stretching your muscles sufficiently"). After the user has
finished exercising with the fitness device 11 as required, the
course guidance program 22 makes reference to the fitness course 24
again and instructs the user to switch to the next fitness device
11 for continuing the workout. In doing so, the user works out with
the fitness devices 11 in sequence until the user completes the
fitness course 24.
[0023] As indicated above, the present invention discloses that the
personal device 21 gives course guidance to the user while the user
is working out with the fitness devices 11, such that the user can
complete the fitness course 24 correctly.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of multimedia files 29,
such as audio files, are stored in the personal device 21, whereas
the fitness device 11 comprises a playing device 19, such as a
speaker. The personal device 21 is positioned on the fitness device
11 and sends the multimedia files 29 to the fitness device 11 via
the two wireless interfaces. After the fitness device 11 has
received the multimedia files 29, the playing device 19 plays the
multimedia files 29. Hence, the fitness device 11 plays the
multimedia files 29 in the personal device 21 while the user is
exercising. With the personal device 21 being in the possession of
the user, the contents of the multimedia files 29 are supposed to
appeal to the user. As a result, users can listen to or watch their
favorite multimedia audios or videos while working out, thereby
rendering the workout comfortable.
* * * * *