U.S. patent application number 13/758966 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for apparatus, system and method for improving user fitness by tracking activity time.
The applicant listed for this patent is Frank Napolitano. Invention is credited to Frank Napolitano.
Application Number | 20130218309 13/758966 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48982866 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130218309 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Napolitano; Frank |
August 22, 2013 |
APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING USER FITNESS BY TRACKING
ACTIVITY TIME
Abstract
The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and
method of providing a schedule for improving fitness of a user by
tracking activity time. The apparatus, system and method may
include at least one user interface suitable for accepting a
plurality of user information regarding the user; at least one
database including a plurality of exercise activities coded at
least by time; a matching engine suitable for selecting a fitness
program including ones of the plurality of exercise activities
matched, correspondent to the respective coded times, to the
plurality of user information; and an electronic calendar of the
fitness program suitable for receiving updates from the user
regarding completion of the coded times for each of the matched
ones of the exercise activities of the fitness program.
Inventors: |
Napolitano; Frank;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Napolitano; Frank |
Philadelphia |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48982866 |
Appl. No.: |
13/758966 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61594816 |
Feb 3, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 20/30 20180101;
A63B 71/0619 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/91 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/06 20060101
A63B071/06 |
Claims
1. A system of providing a schedule for improving fitness of a user
by tracking activity time: at least one user interface instantiated
by computing code stored remotely over a network from the user in
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and suitable
for accepting a plurality of user information regarding the user;
at least one database stored in at least one of the at least one
non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising a plurality
of exercise activities coded at least by time; a matching engine
comprising computing code executed from at least one of the at
least one non-transitory computer readable medium and suitable for
selecting a fitness program comprising ones of the plurality of
exercise activities matched, by the matching engine and
correspondent to the respective coded times, to the plurality of
user information; and an electronic calendar of the fitness program
provided to at least one of the at least one user interface for the
user, communicative with the matching engine and suitable for
receiving updates from the user regarding completion of the coded
times for each of the matched ones of the exercise activities of
the fitness program.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user information
comprises current activity level of the user.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user information
comprises at least two of height, weight, body mass index, and
current fitness level of the user.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of exercise
activities comprises at least one of walking, running, and
participatory video watching.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the matching engine is suitable
for modifying the fitness program in accordance with the received
updates from the electronic calendar.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface
comprises at least a stationary user interface and a mobile user
interface.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network at least partially
comprises a cellular network.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of exercise
activities comprises at least one of aerobic exercise,
weightlifting, and yoga.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the received updates are received
at least partially in real time during the activity time.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the received updates are
received at least partially from a mobile device.
11. A system of providing a schedule for improving fitness of a
plurality of users by tracking active time: at least one
administrative user interface instantiated by computing code stored
in at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
suitable for accepting a plurality of challenges for ones of the
plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of challenges
comprises at least aggregated active time; at least one database
stored in at least one of the at least one non-transitory computer
readable medium, and comprising a plurality of exercise activities
selectable for inclusion in ones of the plurality of challenges and
coded in the at least one database at least by time; a challenge
engine comprising computing code executed from at least one of the
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and suitable
for providing to select ones of the plurality users the ones of the
plurality of challenges related, according to the at least one
administrative user interface, to the select ones of the plurality
of users, wherein the aggregated active time comprises at least a
summation of the coded time of each of ones of the plurality of
activities in the related ones of the plurality of challenges; and
an electronic calendar provided to each of the select ones of the
plurality of users that illustrates to the select one of the users
accessing the electronic calendar at least progress of the select
one of the users toward the aggregated active time of the related
ones of the plurality of challenges.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the aggregated active time
further comprises bonus time accorded ones of the plurality of the
plurality of activities in the related ones of the plurality of
challenges.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bonus time comprises
negative time summed to the coded time.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the bonus time comprises
additive time summed to the coded time.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic calendar further
illustrates to the select one of the users at least progress of
others of the select ones of the users participating in the related
ones of the plurality of challenges.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic calendar further
illustrates to the select one of the users at least aggregated
progress of others of the select ones of the users participating in
the related ones of the plurality of challenges.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the challenge engine
illustrates to the select one of the users at least aggregated
progress of others of the select ones of the users participating in
the related ones of the plurality of challenges.
18. A method of providing a schedule for improving fitness of a
user by tracking active time: instantiating, by non-transitory
computing code, a user interface for accepting a plurality of user
information regarding the user; storing, in a non-transitory
computer readable medium, a plurality of exercise activities coded
at least by time; matching, using non-transitory computing code, of
ones of the plurality of exercise activities, according to the
respective coded times, to the plurality of user information to
generate a recommended fitness program; and calendaring the
recommended fitness program to receive updates from the user
regarding completion of the respective coded times for each of the
matched ones of the exercise activities of the fitness program.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising challenging the user
to complete the respective coded times of ones of the plurality of
exercise activities in competition with other users.
20. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of user
information comprises at least a current activity level, and
wherein said matching comprises matching according to the current
activity level.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/594,816, filed Feb. 3, 2012, entitled
Apparatus, System and Method for Improving User Fitness By Tracking
Activity Time, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is directed to improving user fitness,
and, more particularly, is directed to an apparatus, system and
method for improving user fitness by tracking activity time.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background
[0005] Improving user fitness, health and overall well being has
become a multi-billion industry worldwide. However, improved
fitness typically requires a user to understand the different
aspects of exercise, and to dedicate him or herself to tasks the
user finds unpleasant, or at least very inconvenient.
[0006] For example, it is generally understood that the aspects of
exercise include cardiovascular fitness, which is the fitness level
of the heart, lungs, veins and arteries that are responsible for
processing and transporting oxygen to the muscles (i.e., as your
fitness improves, the heart becomes more efficient at pumping more
blood with fewer contractions); muscular strength, which is the
strength to perform everyday tasks like lifting, carrying, and even
comfortably standing (i.e., as muscular strength improves, the
muscles become stronger and these tasks can be performed with less
exertion); muscular endurance, which is the stamina to continue
exerting muscular strength over periods of time (i.e., as endurance
improves, the user will be able to exert for longer time periods);
and flexibility, which is the ability to move freely and have a
high range of motion in the joints (i.e., as flexibility improves,
posture improves and muscular tension, atrophy and stiffness
decrease).
[0007] In application, the aforementioned types of fitness are
deemed by the fitness industry to be best achieved only by well
understood means. For example, aerobic exercise is typically
prescribed to improve cardiovascular fitness; weightlifting is
often prescribed to improve strength and endurance; and yoga and
low impact aerobics are typically prescribed to improve
flexibility. However, because each of these types of fitness is
affected by age, inactivity, and like factors, it is typical that
the users who would benefit most from each time of exercise, i.e.,
those over 30 years old and those who are currently inactive, are
also those who deem themselves to busy for the typically prescribed
exercises, or too sedentary to begin the prescribed exercises.
[0008] On the other hand, it is also typically recommended that
moderately to very active persons engage in exercise of any type
daily, and that moderately inactive to inactive persons engage in
exercise of any type every other day. However, because of the
typical prescription of the aforementioned exercises, most users
deem this recommendation of daily or semi-daily exercise to mean
that the user must engage in one of the foregoing described
activities in those timeframes, i.e., aerobics, weightlifting, or
yoga. This understanding of most users regarding how to improve
fitness is incorrect.
[0009] Rather, most users would benefit greatly simply by engaging
in some activity (not necessarily the typically prescribed
exercises) either daily, semi-daily, or the like. In fact, by way
of non-limiting example, an average user could improve fitness
simply by going up and down a few flights of stairs at his or her
parking garage at work every day, rather than taking the elevator.
However, the available art fails to give the average user the
option to monitor activity by time as a way of improving
fitness.
[0010] Therefore, the need exists for an apparatus, system and
method of improving user fitness by tracking activity time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system
and method of providing a schedule for improving fitness of a user
by tracking activity time. The apparatus, system and method may
include at least one user interface stored remotely over a network
from the user and suitable for accepting a plurality of user
information regarding the user; at least one database including a
plurality of exercise activities coded at least by time; a matching
engine suitable for selecting a fitness program including ones of
the plurality of exercise activities matched, by the matching
engine and correspondent to the respective coded times, to the
plurality of user information; and an electronic calendar of the
fitness program provided to at least one of the at least one user
interface for the user, communicative with the matching engine and
suitable for receiving updates from the user regarding completion
of the coded times for each of the matched ones of the exercise
activities of the fitness program.
[0012] The present invention is and further includes an apparatus,
system and method of providing a schedule for improving fitness of
a plurality of users by tracking active time. The apparatus, system
and method may include at least one administrative user interface
suitable for accepting a plurality of challenges for ones of the
plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of challenges
comprises at least aggregated active time; at least one database
comprising a plurality of exercise activities selectable for
inclusion in ones of the plurality of challenges and coded in the
at least one database at least by time; a challenge engine suitable
for providing to select ones of the plurality users the ones of the
plurality of challenges related, according to the at least one
administrative user interface, to the select ones of the plurality
of users; and an electronic calendar provided to each of the select
ones of the plurality of users that illustrates to the select one
of the users accessing the electronic calendar at least progress of
the select one of the users toward the aggregated active time of
the related ones of the plurality of challenges.
[0013] Thus, the present invention provides at least an apparatus,
system and method of improving user fitness by tracking activity
time
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings, like
numerals represent like elements, and:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of an
exemplary method of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of an
exemplary apparatus and system of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of an
exemplary apparatus and system of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 16 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 17 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 18 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 19 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 20 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 21 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 22 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 23 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 24 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 25 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 26 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 27 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 28 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 29 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 30 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 31 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 32 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 33 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 34 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 35 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 36 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0051] FIG. 37 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 38 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 39 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 40 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0055] FIG. 41 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 42 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 43 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 44 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 45 is a screen shot illustrating exemplary aspects of
the present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of
the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements
that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present
invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many
other elements typically found in computerized apparatuses, systems
and methods. Those of ordinary skill in the art will thus recognize
that other elements and/or steps are thus desirable and/or required
in implementing the present invention. However, because such
elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do
not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a
discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The
disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and
modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled
in the art. Furthermore, the embodiments identified and illustrated
herein are for exemplary purposes only, and are not meant to be
exclusive or limited in their description of the present
invention.
[0061] As referenced hereinabove, it is a frequent goal of persons
to improve health, wellness and/or fitness status. To that end, the
current art provides a myriad of offerings for persons at different
levels of health, wellness or fitness (hereinthroughout also
collectively referred to as "fitness") to improve their respective
levels. However, such offerings are provided in relation to
activities that users do not typically monitor, such as steps,
types of exercise, calories burned, or the like, and are thus not
dedicated to information that users do typically monitor, such as
time. More particularly, to the extent time is tracked in the
current art, such available fitness programs track time
correspondent to the exercise performed for a period of time or in
relation to calories burned, rather than simply tracking time as
active time that will directly correlate to improved fitness. The
modification of behavior that leads to improved fitness is,
however, most readily performed by simplifying the factors to be
monitored by the person desiring to improve fitness. As such, the
tracking of the singular factor of time stands the greatest chance
of causing behavior modifications such that fitness may be
improved.
[0062] FIG. 1 illustrates a method in accordance with the present
invention. At step 902, a user may be asked for or provided with
log-in information, which log-in information may be unique to the
present invention or may be part of a larger fitness, wellness,
health-care, gym choice, or like program. In an embodiment, at the
inception of use and upon logging in for the first time, a user may
be asked to provide personal information, body information such as
height, weight, or body mass index, age, fitness level, exercise
level, or the like.
[0063] At step 904, the user may preferably be asked for activity
preferences, such as whether the user prefers walking, running,
participatory video watching, or the like. The user may preferably
be enabled to respond that the user doesn't know what exercise the
user prefers, in order to account for the fact that some users may
not currently engage in any fitness activities, and/or may not have
activity preferences. Correspondingly, the user may be asked as to
the user's current activity level, and may be given the option to
respond that the user is not currently active. The user may further
be asked, such as heirarchically, as to the user's activity
preferences. For example, if the user selects that the user prefers
to engage in participatory exercise videos, the user may be asked
what type of classes the user prefers to participate in on
video.
[0064] At step 906, the user may be asked for, or provided with,
personal goals for the user's activity program, wherein such goals
are defined by time according to the present invention. That is,
the user may be provided with an exercise program correspondent to
the user's current activity level, wherein the exercise program is
designed to maintain user interest, such as by blending videos, and
walking, and wherein the personal goals provided for the user are
correspondent to certain time periods of activity, rather than
types of activity as in the available art.
[0065] In the course of obtaining the above-referenced information,
and developing the personal goals for the user, the user may, of
course, be asked for and/or provided with a variety of information.
For example, the user may be asked as to preferred modes of
communication, wherein the preferred methods suggested to the user
may be e-mail or SMS/text/MMS. Further, the user may be asked for a
variety of health information, which the user may or may not be
required to provide. Such requested information may include, for
example, information regarding the user's eating habits, the user's
health history, the user's occupation, the user's income level, or
the like. The more information garnered by the present invention,
the more likely a desirable fitness program will be provided to the
user. Thereby, the user may be incentivized to provide more
complete and adequate information, and thus the volume of
information accumulated in the present invention may be highly
valuable for use by advertisers, marketers, health-care providers,
and the like, particularly in aggregated form such as to protect
the privacy of individual user's, and/or to provide highly targeted
offerings to particular users.
[0066] Further, irrespective of the amount of information entered,
it is preferred that the recommended exercise program not only be
tracked by time, as referenced above, but further that the program
provided be a detailed program targeted to the current and desired
fitness level of the particular user, as best as that level can be
assessed based on the information provided by the user.
[0067] In the exemplary screen shots discussed below, the use of
one or more client interfaces is illustrated in accordance with the
method discussed above--that is, the illustration includes the
offering of a program that tracks exercise time for each user,
including the sign-up/log-in of the user, the entry of sign
up-login information into a relational database as related to the
particular user, the obtaining of relevant exercise related
information correspondent to the user's information, the obtaining
from the database of one or more detailed, relevant recommended
exercise programs tailored to the user's entered information, and
the like. As will be understood by the those skilled in the art and
as will be appreciated with respect to the following figures,
multiple templates may be provided, wherein underlying content for
each page template may be varied without departing from the scope
or spirit of the invention. Such templates may include, by way of
non-limiting example, one or more common landing pages, one or more
registration pages, and one or more program/offerings/calendaring
pages.
[0068] More particularly with respect to a program page as used
herein, a program may include any pre-created activity that is
matched by fitness level and that is provided for the purpose of
monitoring exercise by time. A program administrator page may be
provided on the back end of the present invention to allow an
administrator to create, change, add, or delete such programs over
time. Programs may thus include, for example, walking programs,
running programs, and video-based programs.
[0069] Further, a program, as the term is used herein, may include
one or more challenges that begin, end, or have a duration that is
pre-defined. A challenge administrator may be an administrator that
can create, change, add, or delete programs over time, for example.
Further, a user or an administrator may create teams to compete
with one another during challenges, in addition to an individual
user's participation in a challenge, by way of non-limiting example
only.
[0070] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary computing system 100 for use in
accordance with herein described apparatus, system and method.
Computing system 100 is capable of executing software, such as an
operating system (OS) and a variety of computing applications 190,
including thick and thin client applications, by way of
non-limiting example. Such applications may include, by way of
non-limiting example, the fitness application(s) discussed
herein.
[0071] The operation of exemplary computing system 100 is
controlled primarily by computer readable instructions, such as
instructions stored in a non-transitory manner on a computer
readable storage medium, such as hard disk drive (HDD) 115, optical
disk (not shown) such as a CD or DVD, solid state drive (not shown)
such as a USB "thumb drive," a remote server or servers (not
shown), or the like. Such instructions may be executed within
central processing unit (CPU) 110 to cause computing system 100 to
perform operations. Thereby, the CPU 110 may access or execute
computing code instructions from storage medium 115 to collectively
provide the engine(s), such as the matching engine and the
challenge engine, that provide the time tracked fitness program
systems and methods discussed hereinthroughout.
[0072] It is appreciated that, although exemplary computing system
100 is shown to comprise a single CPU 110, such description is
merely illustrative as computing system 100 may comprise a
plurality of CPUs 110. Additionally, computing system 100 may
exploit the resources of remote CPUs (not shown), for example,
through communications network 170 or some other data
communications means.
[0073] In operation, CPU 110 fetches, decodes, and executes
instructions from a computer readable storage medium such as HDD
115. Such instructions can be included in software such as an
operating system (OS), executable programs, and the like.
Information, such as computer instructions and other computer
readable data, is transferred between components of computing
system 100 via the system's main data-transfer path. The main
data-transfer path may use a system bus architecture 105, although
other computer architectures (not shown) can be used, such as
architectures using serializers and deserializers and crossbar
switches to communicate data between devices over serial
communication paths. System bus 105 can include data lines for
sending data, address lines for sending addresses, and control
lines for sending interrupts and for operating the system bus. Some
busses provide bus arbitration that regulates access to the bus by
extension cards, controllers, and CPU 110.
[0074] Memory devices coupled to system bus 105 can include random
access memory (RAM) 125 and read only memory (ROM) 130. Such
memories include circuitry that allows information, such as the
databases, relational databases, and the like discussed
hereinthroughout, to be stored and retrieved. ROMs 130 generally
contain stored data that cannot be modified. Data stored in RAM 125
can be read or changed by CPU 110 or other hardware devices. Access
to RAM 125 and/or ROM 130 may be controlled by memory controller
120. Memory controller 120 may provide an address translation
function that translates virtual addresses into physical addresses
as instructions are executed. Memory controller 120 may also
provide a memory protection function that isolates processes within
the system and isolates system processes from user processes.
[0075] Display 160, which is controlled by display controller 155,
can be used to display visual output and/or presentation generated
by or at the request of computing system 100. Such visual output
may include text, graphics, animated graphics, and/or video, for
example. Display 160 may be implemented with a CRT-based video
display, an LCD-based flat-panel display, gas plasma-based
flat-panel display, touch-panel, or the like. Display controller
155 includes electronic components required to generate a video
signal that is sent to display 160.
[0076] Further, computing system 100 may contain network adapter
165 which may be used to couple computing system 100 to an external
communication network 170, which may include or provide access to
the Internet and/or the aforementioned remote servers and/or the
aforementioned storage devices. Communications network 170 may
provide user access for computing system 100 with means of
communicating and transferring software and information
electronically. Additionally, communications network 170 may
provide for distributed processing, which involves several
computers and the sharing of workloads or cooperative efforts in
performing a task. It is appreciated that the network connections
shown are exemplary and other means of establishing communications
links between computing system 100 and remote users may be
used.
[0077] It is appreciated that exemplary computing system 100 is
merely illustrative of a computing environment in which the herein
described systems and methods may operate. Thus, the exemplary
system discussed does not limit the implementation of the herein
described systems and methods in computing environments having
differing components and configurations, as the inventive concepts
described herein may be implemented in various computing
environments using various components and configurations.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 3, computing system 100 may be deployed in
networked computing environment 200. In general, the above
description for computing system 100 applies to server, client, and
peer computers deployed in a networked environment, for example,
server 205, tablet/laptop/mobile computer 210, and desktop computer
230. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary illustrative networked
computing environment 200, with a server in communication with
client computing and/or communicating devices via a communications
network, in which the herein described apparatus and methods may be
employed.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 3, server 205 may be interconnected via a
communications network 240 (which may include any of, or any
combination of, a fixed-wire or wireless LAN, WAN, intranet,
extranet, peer-to-peer network, virtual private network, the
Internet, or other communications network such as POTS, ISDN, VoIP,
PSTN, etc.) with a number of client computing/communication devices
such as laptop computer 210, wireless mobile telephone 215, wired
telephone 220, personal digital assistant 225, user desktop
computer 230, and/or other communication enabled devices (not
shown). Server 205 may comprise dedicated servers operable to
process and communicate data such as digital content 250 to and
from client devices 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, etc. using any of a
number of known protocols, such as hypertext transfer protocol
(HTTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), simple object access protocol
(SOAP), wireless application protocol (WAP), or the like.
Additionally, networked computing environment 200 may utilize
various data security protocols such as secured socket layer (SSL),
pretty good privacy (PGP), virtual private network (VPN) security,
or the like. Each client device 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, etc., may
be equipped with an operating system operable to support one or
more computing and/or communication applications, such as a web
browser (not shown), email (not shown), or the like, to interact
with server 205.
[0080] FIG. 4 is an exemplary screen shot in accordance with the
time-tracked fitness system discussed herein. The exemplary screen
shot may be provided on the afore-discussed computer display, such
as a thin client interface available over at least one network. The
illustrative screen shot shows a user several options to begin a
time monitored fitness program. The options include, for example,
entering the program, logging-in to an existing account within the
program, obtaining fitness information, and the like. The screen
shot of FIG. 4 may be provided, for example, when a user logs-in
from a computer on which they are not "cookied" but for a user who
has an existing account, or for a user who does not have an
existing account.
[0081] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary registration template
screen, such as for a new user to the time tracked fitness program.
As illustrated, a first registration screen may obtain very basic
information regarding the new user, and may provide a log-in.
Further, a user may have received an invitation, such as by e-mail,
to join the time-tracked fitness program, and in this event an
identification code associated with the invitation may be entered,
manually or automatically based on metadata in the invite, at the
illustrated registration screen.
[0082] FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating further information
that may be gained at registration. As illustrated, a user may be
asked to provide an indication of the user's overall health or
fitness, which indication may be modified by the user over time, or
which indication may be modified automatically, at least in part,
as the user engages in the time tracked fitness program. By way of
non-limiting example, FIG. 6 illustrates that a user may assess his
or her energy level, his/her satisfaction with his/her current
looks, his/her assessment of his/her overall health, and/or his/her
assessment of his/her quality of life. As understood by those
skilled in the art, and as discussed above, this information may be
entered to, for example, a database wherein this information will
be associated with the other information of the user obtained at
log-in, and further that this information may be accumulated, such
as anonymously, across multiple users, such as for advertising
and/or marketing purposes.
[0083] FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating further information
that may be obtained from the user upon registration, and/or that
may be modified by the user during the program, and/or may be
modified by the program automatically. The illustrated information
of FIG. 7 relates to the user's body, and includes the user's
physical condition, the user's coordination, the user's strength,
and the user's flexibility. Needless to say, the information of
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, and/or additional information obtained from the
user at registration or thereafter, may be provided on multiple
screens, such as a quick login as discussed elsewhere herein, or
may be provided on a single screen through which the user can
scroll during and throughout the different aspects discussed
herein.
[0084] FIG. 8 is a screen shot illustrating a user's input upon
registration, which may be modified post-registration, and in this
case the user's input is with regard to the user's exercise habits.
As shown, and by way of non-limiting example, a user may enter
information with respect to the user's exercise experience level,
the user's exercise knowledge, the user's motivation, the user's
knowledge of nutrition, and the user's eating habits. Again, this
information may be associated with the user in the database, and
may likewise be accumulated for use in advertising or marketing.
Further, the features entered by the user, such as those
illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, may be used to drive the detailed
generation of the user's targeted, time-tracked exercise
program.
[0085] By way of further example, the user's generation of a
recommended exercise program may include consideration of the
user's entered preferences. For example, and as illustrated in FIG.
9, the user may be asked preferences as to walking, running,
exercise classes, other types of exercise, and the user may
additionally be offered an option of not knowing what the user's
activity preferences are. This last option, for example, allows the
present invention to include or design detailed exercise programs
for those users who were previously engaged in little or no
activity. FIG. 10 further illustrates other exemplary aspects of
user activity preferences, such as whether the user prefers cardio
exercises, strength exercises, or stress relief and relaxation
exercises.
[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the key aspect to the detailed
design of a user's time tracked fitness program may be the user's
current commitment to activity time, particularly in view of the
user's commitment that will be required to obtain a desired fitness
level. FIG. 11 shows that the user may be asked at what level the
user is currently active, such as per day, per week, per month, or
the like. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the user is asked whether
he or she is inactive, active less than one hour per week, active
one to two and half hours per week, active two and a half to five
hours per week, or active more than five hours per week. Obviously,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that such time commitment
levels are indicative of a user's current state of health, that is,
a user that is currently inactive is likely to be very unfit, while
a user who is active more than five hours per week is likely to be
moderately to significantly fit.
[0087] FIG. 12 is an exemplary screen shot that illustrates that a
user of the present invention may preferably set forth personal
goals for his or her fitness. Further, as illustrated, the present
invention may ask that the user commit more to the user's fitness
than the user's current activity level entered in FIG. 11, such as
in an attempt to design a program to improve the user's fitness.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 12 and as may be the case
throughout the screen shot illustrations in the present invention,
the user may be provided with information, data, recommendations,
or the like that may improve the user's fitness. Such information
or data may be targeted to the user based on information entered by
the user throughout the screen shots, may be generically provided
to all users at various points throughout the screen shots, and/or
may include targeted advertisements to the user throughout the
screen shots of the present invention.
[0088] FIG. 13 illustrates that a user may elect communication
preferences for the time tracked fitness program in accordance with
the present invention. Thereby, for example, the user may be
enabled to communicate via one or two way communication with the
engine of the present invention that time tracks the fitness
program via numerous communication methodologies that increase the
convenience for the user of the use of the present invention. As
illustrated, such methodologies may include, for example, SMS
messages, MMS messages, e-mail, blogging, voice communications, or
the like.
[0089] FIG. 14 illustrates additional health information that may
preferably be obtained regarding the user prior to recommendation
of a time tracked fitness program. As illustrated, it may be
preferred that height, weight, body mass index, or the like may be
obtained regarding the user such that the user's actual fitness
information may be compared to the previously entered fitness
information, such as for verification and to further allow for the
accumulation of data, such as for targeted marketing, advertising,
or like purposes. Needless to say, it may be preferable that such
information, upon being obtained from the user, be kept strictly
confidential, and as such, such information may or may not be
shared only in a marketing or advertising context in aggregated
form with the data of other users. Of course, this and additional
information may be entered at registration, and may be modified by
the user at a later time, such as automatically, including upon
interaction by the user with an electronic device, such as an
automated scale, or based on the user's participation in the
fitness program and the estimated results obtained thereby.
[0090] FIG. 15 is a screen shot illustrating a preliminary
recommendation of several different programs that may work for the
given user based on the information entered by that user at
registration. Likewise, a detailed program may be recommended when
the user modifies or enters new information. These recommendations
may, for example, be provided by the engine discussed hereinabove,
wherein the engine may take into account a variety of information
entered by the user, and may additionally incorporate available
external or third party information, such as by a web-crawl, web
search, or the like, in order to generate a time tracked fitness
program. In certain embodiments, this fitness program
recommendation wizard may make a minimum number of suggestions for
fitness program, such as one suggestion, and may further have a
maximum number of suggestions, such as two, three, four, or more
suggestions. The programs selected by the present invention may be
selected from a limited number of programs that are available,
wherein each available program may have associated therewith
particular criteria, such as in accordance with the criteria
requested of the user. Thereafter, upon receipt of the user
criteria, the engine may make a best match for a program most
likely to be desired by, or helpful to, the user.
[0091] FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary screen shot in which goal
progress of a user may be tracked. As illustrated, FIG. 16 may be a
type of "home page" for a given user, whereat the user's calendar,
scheduling, exercise types, exercise options, and the like are
available, as are the user's goals and the user's profile. Further,
the user may be enabled to view the user's fitness calendar,
challenges in which the user is participating, and the exercise or
fitness types that the user is undertaking. Additionally, the user
may be enabled to quick log exercise of particular types, such as
quick logging a time tracking of unexpected exercise, such as
wherein steps are taken from a twentieth floor office building to
depart the building upon hearing a fire drill.
[0092] Further, as illustrated in the exemplary screen shot of FIG.
17, secondary home pages may optionally update the user as to
challenge progress, personal goal progress, present advertisements,
or the like. As such, to the extent the user is not yet
participating in a challenge or has not yet set personal goals, the
secondary home screen may provide an opportunity to update
challenges or personal goals.
[0093] FIG. 18 is an exemplary embodiment of a key aspect of the
present invention--namely, the calendar that tracks the time track
of the fitness program. As illustrated, the calendar tracks
scheduled exercise activities, such as particular videos, and such
as other scheduled activities. Further, the calendar allows for the
tracking of completion of the timed activities, such as by a user
checking on the activity with a green box, or by checking on the
activity with a red box to indicate the task was not completed in a
timely manner. Further, the calendar, illustrated in FIG. 18,
including the days, times, duration, activities, and the like, may
be downloaded in whole to a personal calendar, such as an Outlook
calendar, as will be understood to those skilled in the art.
Further, based on the previously discussed user communication
preferences, individual activities, or a calendar in whole or in
part, may be communicated to the user via SMS/MMS, e-mail, or the
like. For example, FIG. 19 illustrates synchronization of the
calendar shown in FIG. 18 with an offline calendar, such as a
Google calendar or Outlook calendar. Further, other events may be
entered into the calendar, such as unexpected timed events. This is
illustrated with greater particularity in FIG. 20, wherein a quick
log allows for a user to enter in an activity and a duration and
upload that activity as a completed activity to the calendar.
Further, the quick log capability may, because the quick logged
activity is not part of the recommended program, further allow for
the engine of the present invention to assess a quality of time of
the exercise entered. That is, the user may receive the precise
time of the activity as credited time for the time tracked fitness
program, or may receive greater time credit for a more strenuous
activity or less time credit for a less strenuous activity.
[0094] FIG. 21 illustrates with greater particularity an aspect of
a recommended program. As shown, a walking program may have various
options within the program, wherein options not yet selected by the
user may indicate, such as by a plus sign, that those options may
be add-able by the user, and wherein options already selected by
the user may include a minus sign, such as to be deleted from the
program by the user. Needless to say, the addition or deletion of a
program aspect from the overall program may be employed to update
the calendar discussed hereinabove. FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21,
with the exception that FIG. 22 is illustrative of an exemplary
running program. Likewise, FIG. 23 is similar to FIGS. 21 and 22,
but FIG. 23 illustrates a proposed video program.
[0095] FIG. 24 is an exemplary illustration that a user may make
recommended purchases through the present invention. Products
advertised may be applicable to the user's selected time tracked
fitness program and/or may be sponsored products or advertisements.
For example, a user may be enabled to join a gym for time tracked
fitness credits in the user's time tracked program, wherein a
recommended gym may be geographically assessed as local to the
user, such as based on the user's GPS position on a mobile device
or based on the user's IP address. Similarly, FIG. 25 illustrates
recommended healthy diets for use in conjunction with the user's
recommended time tracked fitness program. Foods may include
third-party products or services, such as through sponsored
advertisements or based on recommendations.
[0096] FIG. 26 is an exemplary illustration of motivation to be
used to keep a user exercising in accordance with the prescribed
time tracked fitness program. Such motivation, may include, for
example, motivational sayings, photos, such as of the user in a
previous fitness state, charts of progress towards personal goals,
and the like. Favorite motivational tactics may be indicated by the
user, so that the most motivational material for a particular user
can be provided to the user on a regular basis. The use of such
motivational favorites is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment
of screen shot in FIG. 27.
[0097] The screen shot of FIG. 28 illustrates, as discussed
hereinabove, that goals and progress may be updated by the user as
the user improves and follows the recommended program. Upon receipt
of such updates, the engine may create new recommendations, either
in part or in whole for a time tracked fitness program for that
user.
[0098] FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary challenge for a user. In
preferred embodiments, the current challenge is indicated to the
user, and progress towards the current challenge is tracked. For
example, the aforementioned engine may calculate, such as on a
daily basis, the percentage of total minutes that the user has
achieved, and may compare that value with the percentage of days
that have already passed in the challenge. In preferred
embodiments, challenges may be shared with friends, such as using a
widget or via an invite to join the underlying website of the
present invention.
[0099] Challenges, or competitions, may also be created by the
user, and other users may be invited to join such challenges. This
is illustrated with greater particularity in FIG. 30. A created
challenge may be announced, such as several days in advance of the
beginning of the challenge. Challenge results may be viewed in real
time until a new challenge is announced, and as such, progress
among competitors may be tracked in real time. Challenges may be
organized by team, or by individual. For example, in a team
challenge, a particular team, such as co-workers at a particular
company, may participate in the challenge against other teams, such
as other personnel from other companies. In a team challenge,
individual competitors may or may not be shown, but the progress of
each team versus the user's team may be viewable in real time. In a
preferred embodiment, in an individual challenge, the progress of
individual competitors may be shown as against the user to the
user. Creation of an individual challenge is illustrated in the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 31. Challenges in which a user is
actively participating may be viewable to the user, such as
illustrated in FIG. 32. As mentioned above, progress versus
competitors in a challenge may likewise be available to the user,
such as is illustrated in FIG. 33. Further, FIG. 34 illustrates
that a trophy case may be provided, such as when trophies are
obtained by the user upon completion of challenges, upon victories
in challenges, either as an individual or a team, or the like.
[0100] FIGS. 35-38 illustrate the updating of health information
pursuant to participation in a time tracked fitness program
recommended by the present invention. As discussed throughout, the
correspondent information may be updated by a user, or may be at
least partially automatically updated by the engine by the present
invention in accordance with the user's participation level in the
program, or may be automatically updated by association of the user
with electronic devices, such as with a scale, for example.
Further, the present invention allows for the tracking of detailed
data not available in the prior art, in part because the user's
height, weight, body mass index, or the like is known, and the
user's exercise level is likewise known. Further known are the
preferred activities of the user that lead to the improvement or
the decline in fitness levels. Additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 35-38, the updating of health information is visually
simplistic, such as wherein red is used for a worsening condition,
and green is illustrative of an improving condition.
[0101] Those skilled in the art will appreciate, in light of the
discussion herein, that challenges may receive titles to allow
users to differentiate between challenges, and that such titles may
be set administratively or by users, for example. Different titles
and different criteria may indicate different challenges, such as
different lengths of challenges, different types of challenges, or
the like. For example, an active New Year's Challenge may be a
title that indicates a challenge that lasts for four weeks in
January, just after the New Year, and that requires a user to
accumulate 600 minutes of exercise over the four week period. A
March Madness challenge may occur for three weeks in March, such as
overlapping with the NCAA basketball tournament, and may require
that a user accumulates 600 minutes over a three week time period,
but that the user may get double minutes for every strenuous
exercise video class taken. Likewise, users may get bonus minutes
for attempting certain new activities, or for trying a particular
number of different activities over the course of a month, a
quarter, or the like.
[0102] Needless to say, and as discussed above with respect to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the engine of the present invention may include
an administrative "back end," wherein the administrative back end
may allow for administrative functions by authorized administrative
users, such as including the generation of new programs. As
illustrated in the screen shot of FIG. 39, an administrative user
who is authorized to have access to new programs may access a new
program generator screen, wherefrom new programs may be created to
be offered to users. New programs may include, for example, a
category of the program such that the program may be matched to
appropriate fitness level users, and such that the program may be
properly categorized on the site for selection by users; a title of
the program; an activity in the program; a duration of the program,
noting that the program might have a start date but not an end
date; a frequency for the program, such as the number of sessions
in a particular week, which frequency may change over the course of
a program; the recommended days of the week for each session within
the program, which may likewise change over the duration of the
program; and session durations specified in minutes per session and
aggregated minutes for the total program, which may likewise change
over the course of the program. These program values may then be
calculated for optimized impact based on time tracking of the
entered fitness program, wherein the optimal program is then
populated to the user's calendar with activity dates and times for
the program entered.
[0103] Similarly, FIG. 40 illustrates a challenge generator for the
creation of challenges by administrative users. The challenge
generator may be available only to administrative users for
particular challenges, noting that, and as discussed above, certain
challenges may also be available for generation by individual users
who are not administrators. The administrative challenge generator
may require entry of the name of the challenge, as that name will
be seen by users; a description of the challenge, as the
description will be seen by users; the start and end date of the
challenge; the goal of the challenge, which may be fixed for
variable, for example, and whether the obtaining of goal rewards,
such as a trophy in the aforementioned trophy case, may occur; any
available bonus minutes, which preferably includes the activities,
that, if any, allow for the earning of bonus minutes; and of the
start and end of the message dates, such as for messages inviting
users to join the challenge.
[0104] FIG. 41 illustrates a screen shot, preferably available to
administrators, that illustrates a key that may be used to match a
user's answers to registration questions to exercise preference and
intensity options, by way of by way of non-limiting example. FIG.
42 illustrates, with greater particularity, the association of a
key with particular exercises, as discussed above with respect to
FIG. 41. Moreover, FIG. 43 is an illustration of an administrative
view of program names matched with program codes, program keys and
program descriptions/description codes. Challenges may be included
in the administrative screens of FIGS. 42, 42 and 43, by way of
non-limiting example.
[0105] FIG. 44 is an illustration of a user's side interface for a
mobile application in accordance to the invention discussed
hereinabove. As illustrated, and in preferred embodiments, the
previously discussed quick log may be available in order to have
the user enter unexpected exercise time to his or her account for
time tracking associated with such unscheduled activity. Further,
and as illustrated, a user may be enabled to find a gym proximate
to the user's GPS location, and/or to check-in to that gym
location; to mark a scheduled activity, such as on the user's
calendar, as done; to check progress towards a challenge the user
is participating in, or the like.
[0106] FIG. 45 illustrates with greater particularity an exemplary
embodiment of a quick log on a mobile device. As shown, the user
may be enabled to enter or access, such as via a drop-down, the
date of the event to be quick logged, the duration of the event,
and the type of activity engaged in for the unexpected
exercise.
[0107] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the herein
described systems and methods may be subject to various
modifications and alternative constructions. There is no intention
to limit the scope of the invention to the specific constructions
described herein. Rather, the herein described systems and methods
are intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,
and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the
invention and its equivalents.
* * * * *