U.S. patent application number 14/082743 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for system and method for monitoring the use of an exercise apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Irwin Arginsky, Adam Lawrence Farber, Benjamin Hunter Willis. Invention is credited to Irwin Arginsky, Adam Lawrence Farber, Benjamin Hunter Willis.
Application Number | 20140074265 14/082743 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48430356 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140074265 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arginsky; Irwin ; et
al. |
March 13, 2014 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE USE OF AN EXERCISE
APPARATUS
Abstract
A smart phone or other portable device (104, 106, 108) is used
to identify exercises, moves or other tricks performed by a user of
sporting equipment such as an exercise apparatus (110, 112, 114).
The device may be on the user or mounted as part of the equipment.
A gyroscope, accelerometer or other type of sensor (138) is used to
recognize actions performed with the apparatus, such as flips,
spins or other tricks performed with bicycles, pogo sticks, and the
like. Feedback on the exercise performance may be provided to the
user and/or published on a social networking website (102, 150).
The device may act as a training aid, providing quality scores and
data regarding the exercises. The device may be integrated into the
body of the equipment. A processor (126) may monitor movements of
the equipment. Such movements may be classified as a specific type
of trick.
Inventors: |
Arginsky; Irwin;
(Ellenville, NY) ; Willis; Benjamin Hunter;
(Boston, MA) ; Farber; Adam Lawrence; (Woodmere,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arginsky; Irwin
Willis; Benjamin Hunter
Farber; Adam Lawrence |
Ellenville
Boston
Woodmere |
NY
MA
NY |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48430356 |
Appl. No.: |
14/082743 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2012/065541 |
Nov 16, 2012 |
|
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14082743 |
|
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|
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61561381 |
Nov 18, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 25/08 20130101;
A63B 2024/0012 20130101; A63B 2024/0009 20130101; A63B 71/0616
20130101; A63B 2220/833 20130101; A63B 71/06 20130101; A63B 71/0669
20130101; A63B 2220/801 20130101; A63C 2203/18 20130101; A63C
2203/22 20130101; A63B 2024/0071 20130101; A63B 24/0062 20130101;
G16H 40/67 20180101; A63C 2203/24 20130101; A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 2071/063 20130101; A63B 2220/20 20130101; A63B 24/0006
20130101; A63B 2024/0068 20130101; A63B 2220/40 20130101; A63B
2220/24 20130101; A63B 2071/0655 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101;
A63B 2225/50 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101; B62J 45/40 20200201;
A63B 2024/0015 20130101; A63B 24/0084 20130101; A63B 2071/065
20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101; A63B 2225/20 20130101; A63C 17/0006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/91 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/06 20060101
A63B071/06 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a first sensor; a second sensor
configured to sense a displacement of the apparatus; an output
device configured to output feedback relating to movements of the
apparatus; a memory configured to store a database of exercise
signatures, each exercise signature identifying a displacement that
is characteristic of a corresponding exercise; and a processor,
coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the memory,
wherein the processor is configured to: detect that a jump is
performed, the detection being based on a signal from one of the
first sensor and the second sensor; produce, based on signal from
the second sensor, a signature for a movement of the apparatus
during the jump, the signature indicating a displacement of the
apparatus that occurred as a result of the movement; classify the
movement as a specific type of trick by comparing the signature for
the movement to the database of exercise signatures; and output
feedback for presentation to one or more users, the feedback
depending on the type of trick which the movement is classified
as.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the memory is configured to
store a scoring model for tricks performed using the exercise
apparatus, and the processor is further configured to calculate a
score based on the signature for the movement and the scoring
model.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein, the processor is further
configured to transmit at least one of the score and the signature
for the movement to a remote server.
4. (canceled)
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displacement indicated by
the signature for the movement is one of a vertical displacement, a
horizontal displacement, and an angular displacement of the
apparatus.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signature for the movement
also indicates at least one of a speed and an acceleration of the
apparatus.
7. (canceled)
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further
comprises a handlebar, the first sensor senses whether a user is
touching a part of the handlebar, and the signature also indicates
whether the user is touching the part of the handlebar.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is one of a pogo
stick, skateboard, bicycle, and skate.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a portable
computing device.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is integrated
into an exercise apparatus.
12. (canceled)
13. A method comprising: detecting, by a device associated with an
exercise apparatus, a start of a trick being performed using the
exercise apparatus; obtaining, by the device, an indication of a
displacement of the device that occurred as a result of a movement
of the device during the trick using the exercise apparatus; and
classifying, by a processor, the movement as a specific type of
trick based on the indication of displacement of the device.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is connected to the
exercise apparatus or is disposed within the exercise
apparatus.
15-16. (canceled)
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the start of the trick being
performed is detected based on a vertical displacement of the
device exceeding a threshold.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating a score
that is associated with the indication of the displacement of the
device.
19. (canceled)
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising: detecting, by the
device, that: (i) a sensor is associated with the exercise
apparatus, and (ii) the sensor is available to feed data to the
device; wherein the obtaining of the indication of the displacement
of the device includes receiving the indication of the displacement
from the sensor.
21. A method comprising: receiving, at a server, an indication of
displacement of a device that occurred as a result of a movement of
the device during a trick performed using an exercise apparatus
associated with the device; classifying, by the server, the
movement as a type of trick based on the indication of
displacement; and publishing, by the server, on a web-site, an
indication of the type of trick which the movement is classified as
and a score that is based on the indication of displacement.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the device is associated with a
user, the method further comprising: updating, by the server, a
record containing information relating to past tricks performed by
the user to include information about the movement; recalculating,
based on the indication of displacement, a statistical measure that
is associated with the performance of the past tricks by the user;
and publishing, by the sever, via the web-site, the statistical
measure.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: receiving, at the
server, an indication whether a user is touching a portion of the
exercise apparatus during the trick; and wherein the movement is
classified based on the indication of whether the user is touching
the portion of the exercise apparatus.
24. The method of claim 21, further comprising ranking, by the
server, a user associated with the device in relation to other
users, the ranking being based on the indication of
displacement.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the server is further
configured to provide a trick application to a portable device of a
user, the trick application being configured to perform at least
one of data collection from sensors associated with the exercise
apparatus, processing of the collected data, and presentation of an
indication of the collected data to the user.
26-35. (canceled)
36. An apparatus comprising: an interface for connecting to a
device via a communications network; a memory for storing a
database of exercise signatures, each signature identifying a
displacement that is characteristic of a corresponding exercise;
and a processor, coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein
the processor is configured to: receive from the device, over the
communications network, a signature of a movement of a device that
occurred during a trick performed using an exercise apparatus;
classify the movement as a specific type of trick by comparing the
signature to the database of exercise signatures that is stored in
the memory; and publish on a web-site, an indication of the type of
exercise which the movement is classified and a score that is based
on the signature.
37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the memory is configured to
store a record containing information relating to past exercises
performed by a user and the processor is further configured to:
update the record to include information about the movement;
recalculate, based on the received signature, a statistical measure
that is associated with the performance of tricks by the user; and
publish via the web-site, the statistical measure.
38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the signature includes an
indication whether a user is touching a portion of the exercise
apparatus during the trick and the processor is further configured
to classify the movement based on the indication of whether the
user is touching the portion of the exercise apparatus.
39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is further
configured to update a ranking of a user associated with the device
in relation to other users, the ranking being based on the
signature.
40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is further
configured to provide a trick application to a portable device of a
user, the trick application being configured to perform at least
one of data collection from sensors associated with the exercise
apparatus, processing of the collected data, and presentation of an
indication of the collected data to a user.
41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the trick application is
provided upon purchase of the exercise apparatus.
42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the processor is further
configured to provide an update of the trick application to the
portable device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing
date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/561,381, filed Nov. 18,
2011, entitled System And Method For Monitoring The Use Of An
Exercise Apparatus, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sporting equipment such as roller skates, skateboards,
bicycles, and pogo sticks have long been used to carry out
acrobatic exercises. Jumps, flips, and axels are commonly performed
by sporting enthusiasts who use such equipment. To these
enthusiasts, being able to perform difficult exercises or tricks
can be a source of pride and a sure sign of skill and sporting
achievement. In some cases, however, it may be difficult to measure
certain information associated with the exercises or tricks. Such
information may include height of a jump, number of rotations,
position of the user or the device, etc.
[0003] Activities involving such sporting equipment may be
performed individually or as part of a competition or contest. The
social aspect may include sharing videos of tricks via a website.
However, it may also be difficult to provide real-time information
to people other than participants and spectators who are in the
same location.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus
including a first sensor, a second sensor, an output device, a
memory, and a processor coupled to the first sensor, the second
sensor, and the memory. The second sensor is for sensing a
displacement of the apparatus. The output device is for outputting
feedback relating to movements of the apparatus. The memory is for
storing a database of exercise signatures, each exercise signature
identifying a displacement that is characteristic of a
corresponding exercise. The processor is configured to detect that
a jump is performed, the detection is based on a signal from one of
the first sensor and the second sensor and produce, based on signal
from the second sensor, a signature for a movement of the apparatus
during the jump, the signature indicating a displacement of the
apparatus that occurred as a result of the movement. In addition,
the processor is configured to classify the movement as a specific
type of trick by comparing the signature for the movement to the
database of exercise signatures and output feedback for
presentation to one or more users, the feedback depending on the
type of trick which the movement is classified as.
[0005] In some instances, the memory is configured to store a
scoring model for tricks performed using the exercise apparatus and
the processor is further configured to calculate a score based on
the signature for the movement and the scoring model. In other
instances, the processor is further configured to transmit the
score to a remote server.
[0006] In addition, in some instances, the processor is further
configured to transmit the signature for the movement to a remote
server. In other instances, the displacement indicated by the
signature for the movement is one of a vertical displacement, a
horizontal displacement, and an angular displacement of the
apparatus. In yet other instances, the signature for the movement
also indicates at least one of a speed and an acceleration of the
apparatus. In yet further instances, the signature for the movement
indicates a plurality of displacements of the apparatus that
occurred as a result of the movement.
[0007] Moreover, in some instances, the first sensor senses whether
a user is touching a part of a handlebar and the signature also
indicates whether the user is touching the part of the handlebar.
In other instances, the processor is further configured to detect
that the first sensor is available to provide data to the
processor.
[0008] Furthermore, in some instances, the apparatus is one of a
pogo stick, skateboard, bicycle, and skate. In other instances, the
apparatus is a portable computing device. In further instances, the
apparatus is integrated into an exercise apparatus.
[0009] In another aspect, a method is provided, the method
comprising detecting, by a device associated with an exercise
apparatus, a start of a trick is performed using the exercise
apparatus, obtaining, by the device, an indication of a
displacement of the device that occurred as a result of a movement
of the device during the trick using the exercise apparatus, and
classifying the movement as a specific type of trick based on the
indication of displacement of the device.
[0010] In some instances, the device is connected to the exercise
apparatus. In other instances, the device is disposed within the
exercise apparatus. In yet other instances, the device includes a
sensor coupled to a processor. In yet other instances, the
displacement of the device is one of a vertical displacement, a
horizontal displacement, and an angular displacement. In yet
further instances, the start of the trick is performed is detected
based on a vertical displacement of the device exceeding a
threshold.
[0011] In addition, in some instances, the method includes
calculating a score that is associated with the indication of the
displacement of the device. In other instances, the method further
includes detecting, by the device, that a sensor is associated with
the exercise apparatus, and the sensor is available to feed data to
the device, wherein the obtaining of the indication of the
displacement of the device includes receiving the indication of the
displacement from the sensor.
[0012] In yet another aspect, a method is provided, the method
including receiving, at a server, an indication of displacement of
a device that occurred as a result of a movement of the device
during a trick performed using an exercise apparatus, classifying,
by the server, the movement as a type of trick based on the
indication of displacement, and publishing, by the server, on a
web-site, an indication of the type of trick which the movement is
classified as and a score that is based on the indication of
displacement.
[0013] In some instances, the device is associated with a user, and
the method further includes updating, by the server, a record
containing information relating to past tricks performed by the
user to include information about the movement, recalculating,
based on the indication of displacement, a statistical measure that
is associated with the performance of the past tricks by the user,
and publishing, by the sever, via the web-site, the statistical
measure.
[0014] In addition, in some instances, the method further includes
receiving, at the server, an indication whether a user is touching
a portion of the exercise apparatus during the trick, and wherein
the movement is classified based on the indication of whether the
user is touching the portion of the exercise apparatus. In other
instances, the method further includes ranking, by the server, a
user associated with the device in relation to other users, the
ranking is based on the indication of displacement.
[0015] Moreover, in some instances, the server is further
configured to provide a trick application to a portable device of a
user, the trick application is configured to perform at least one
of data collection from sensors associated with the exercise
apparatus, processing of the collected data, and presentation of an
indication of the collected data to the user. In yet other
instances, the trick application is provided upon purchase of the
exercise apparatus. In other instances, the server is further
configured to provide an update of the trick application to the
portable device.
[0016] In yet another aspect, a system is provided that includes a
first exercise apparatus, a first portable computing device, and a
server. The first exercise apparatus is configured to perform one
or more tricks when operated by a user. The first portable
computing device is configured to recognize selected tricks
performed with the first exercise apparatus. The server is
configured to receive a first indication of a given one of the
selected tricks performed with the first exercise apparatus, and
publish, on a web-site, information relating to the given one of
the selected tricks performed with the first exercise apparatus,
the published information is accessible to one or more authorized
users.
[0017] In some instances, the information relating to the given one
of the selected tricks performed is published on a web page that is
personal to a user associated with the first portable computing
device. In other instances, the first portable computing device is
a portable communications device. In yet other instances, the first
portable computing device is configured to recognize that a sensor
is associated with the first exercise apparatus, and the sensor is
available to feed data to the first portable computing device,
wherein the information relating to the given one of the selected
tricks performed includes an indication of a displacement that is
obtained using the sensor.
[0018] In addition, in some instances, the system further includes
a second exercise apparatus and a second portable computing device
for automatically recognizing tricks performed with the second
exercise apparatus, wherein the server is also configured to
publish a second indication, the second indication comparing tricks
performed on the first and second exercise apparatuses.
[0019] Moreover, in some instances, the server is configured to
publish the second indication in real time. In other instances, the
second indication is shared with one or more competitors and
spectators of a competition. In yet other instances, the sharing is
done using one or more of a webpage, email, text message and
tweet.
[0020] In yet another aspect, an apparatus is provided, the
apparatus including an interface, a memory, and a processor coupled
to the memory. The interface is for connecting to a device via a
communications network. The memory is for storing a database of
exercise signatures, each signature identifying a displacement that
is characteristic of a corresponding exercise. The process is
configured to receive from the device, over the communications
network, a signature of a movement of a device that occurred during
a trick performed using an exercise apparatus, classify the
movement as a specific type of trick by comparing the signature to
the database of exercise signatures that is stored in the memory,
and publish on a web-site, an indication of the type of exercise
which the movement is classified and a score that is based on the
signature.
[0021] In some instances, the memory is configured to store a
record containing information relating to past exercises performed
by a user. The processor is further configured to update the record
to include information about the movement, recalculate, based on
the received signature, a statistical measure that is associated
with the performance of tricks by the user and publish via the
web-site, the statistical measure.
[0022] In addition, in some instances, the signature includes an
indication whether a user is touching a portion of the exercise
apparatus during the trick and the processor is further configured
to classify the movement based on the indication of whether the
user is touching the portion of the exercise apparatus. In other
instances, the processor is further configured to update a ranking
of a user associated with the device in relation to other users,
the ranking is based on the signature.
[0023] Moreover, in some instances, the processor is further
configured to provide a trick application to a portable device of a
user, the trick application is configured to perform at least one
of data collection from sensors associated with the exercise
apparatus, processing of the collected data, and presentation of an
indication of the collected data to a user. In other instances, the
trick application is provided upon purchase of the exercise
apparatus. In yet other instances, the processor is further
configured to provide an update of the trick application to the
portable device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a system in accordance
with aspects of the invention.
[0025] FIGS. 2A-C depict an example of an exercise apparatus and
its use in accordance with aspects of the invention.
[0026] FIGS. 3A-C depict another example of an exercise apparatus
and its use in accordance with aspects of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a website interface in
accordance with aspects of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 depicts another example of a website interface in
accordance with aspects of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process in accordance with
aspects of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of subtasks associated with the
flowchart of FIG. 6.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another process in accordance with
aspects of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In one aspect, a smart phone or other device is used to
identify exercises, moves or other tricks performed by a user of a
piece of sporting equipment. The smart phone can be in the user's
pocket or it can be mounted directly on an exercise apparatus. With
a gyroscope, accelerometer, or another type of sensor, the smart
phone recognizes actions performed with the exercise apparatus. The
recognized actions may be flips, spins or other tricks performed
with bicycles, pogo sticks, and the like. The smart phone may
provide the user with feedback on the exercises' performance and/or
it may publish information about the tricks on a social networking
website. In the former case, the smart phone may act as a training
aid by providing quality scores and data regarding the performed
exercises.
[0033] In another aspect, a processor and/or transmitter is
integrated into the body of an exercise apparatus or other piece of
sporting equipment, such as a skateboard, pogo stick or bicycle.
Using at least one sensor, the processor monitors the movements of
the exercise apparatus, and when a jump is performed, it may
classify the jump as a specific type of trick, such as a spin or a
flip. Like the smart phone in the above example, the processor is
able to output exercise feedback and/or have the information
published on a website.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary system 100 may include a
server 102, one or more portable devices 104, 106, and 108,
exercise apparatuses 110, 112, and 114, and network 116. Memory 118
of server 102 stores information accessible by a processor 120,
including instructions 122 that may be executed by the processor
120. Memory also includes data 124 that may be retrieved,
manipulated or stored by the processor. The memory may be of any
type capable of storing information accessible by the processor,
such as a hard-drive, memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD, CD-ROM,
write-capable, and read-only memories. The processor 120 may be any
well-known processor, such as commercially available processors,
such as the Intel.RTM. Xenon E5630 or the AMD.RTM. Phenom II.
Alternatively, the processor may be a dedicated controller such as
an ASIC.
[0035] The instructions 122 may be any set of instructions to be
executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as
scripts) by the processor. In that regard, the terms
"instructions," "steps" and "programs" may be used interchangeably
herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for
direct processing by the processor, or in any other computer
language including scripts or collections of independent source
code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance.
Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained
in more detail below.
[0036] Data 124 may be retrieved, stored or modified by processor
120 in accordance with the instructions 122. For instance, although
the system and method is not limited by any particular data
structure, the data may be stored in computer registers, in a
relational database as a table having a plurality of different
fields and records, or XML documents. The data may also be
formatted in any computer-readable format such as, but not limited
to, binary values, ASCII or Unicode. Moreover, the data may
comprise any information sufficient to identify the relevant
information, such as numbers, descriptive text, proprietary codes,
pointers, references to data stored in other memories (including
other network locations) or information that is used by a function
to calculate the relevant data.
[0037] Although FIG. 1 functionally illustrates the processor and
memory as being within the same block, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that the processor and memory
may actually comprise multiple processors and memories that may or
may not be stored within the same physical housing. For example,
some of the instructions and data may be stored on removable CD-ROM
and others within a read-only computer chip. Some or all of the
instructions and data may be stored in a location physically remote
from, yet still accessible by, the processor. Similarly, the
processor may actually comprise a collection of processors which
may or may not operate in parallel.
[0038] The server 102 may be at one node of the network 116 and
capable of directly and indirectly communicating with other nodes
of the network. For example, server 102 may comprise a web server
that is capable of communicating with portable device 104 via the
network 116 such that server 102 uses network 116 to transmit and
display information on a screen of the portable device 104. Server
102 may also comprise a plurality of computers, e.g., a load
balanced server farm, that exchange information with different
nodes of a network for the purpose of receiving, processing and
transmitting data to the client devices. In this instance, the
client devices will typically still be at different nodes of the
network than any of the computers comprising server 102.
[0039] Portable device 104 may be configured similarly to the
server 102, with a processor 126, memory 128, instructions 130, and
data 132. Each portable device may be a smart phone, PDA or other
such device intended for use by a person, having all the internal
components normally found in a personal computer. The processor 126
may be any well-known processor, such as commercially available
processors, such as the Nvidia.RTM. Tegra 2 or the ARM.RTM.
Cortex-A5. The portable device may include a display device 134
(for example, a touch-screen or a small LCD screen. Furthermore,
the portable devices 104, 106 and 108 may each include one or more
sensors 136. Sensors 136 may include, e.g., an accelerometer, a
gyroscope or other sensors for detecting acceleration, angular
displacement, linear displacement, and force.
[0040] Portable device 104 may be carried on the person of a user
of exercise apparatus 110 or it may be affixed directly to the
exercise apparatus 110. When it is carried on the user's person,
portable device 104 may be secured inside a pocket or on an
armband. When it is affixed to exercise apparatus 110 directly,
portable device 104 may be fastened to a part of the apparatus,
such as a shaft or handle, with a strap or bracket. Furthermore,
portable device 104 may be removably disposed within a compartment
inside apparatus. In that regard, the apparatus itself could
protect the portable device 104 from damage.
[0041] Exercise apparatus 110 may be, by way of example only, a
pogo stick, skateboard, bicycle, ski, roller skate, roller blade,
ice skate, sled, or another type of exercise device. Exercise
apparatus 110 may lack any electronic hardware or, alternatively,
it may include at least one of a sensor, processor, memory, and
transmitter. In one example, exercise apparatus 110 includes a
sensor 138. Sensor 138 may be used for detecting the speed, linear
displacement, and/or horizontal displacement of exercise apparatus
110. Signals from the sensor 138 may be forwarded to portable
device 104 and analyzed there. The signals may be transmitted by
wireless transceiver 140 via a BLUETOOTH.TM. link, or any other
wireless link in either analog or digital format. When it is
received at portable device 104 via corresponding transceiver 142,
the signal(s) from sensor 138 may be used as input to an exercise
or trick application 144, such as a pogo stick application in the
case where the exercise apparatus 110 is a pogo stick.
[0042] Application 144, in one aspect, determines what exercises
are performed with the exercise apparatus 110. In operation,
application 144 may use sensor 136, sensor 138, or both, to obtain
a signature for an action. Based on the signature, application 144
may classify the action as a specific type of exercise (e.g., spin,
flip, etc.). Although in the example of FIG. 1, application 144 is
executed by portable device 104, it could also be executed by a
processor embedded in exercise apparatus 110, or by processor 120
of server 102. Thus, application 144 could be executed on any of
the components of system 100, or distributed among the components
of system 100.
[0043] In one example, application 144 uses information from a
trick database 146 and a scoring model database 148 to perform its
functions. The databases 146 and 148 may be separate software
applications, or alternatively, each of them could be a data
structure for storing information. Trick database 146 is configured
to store one or more exercise (trick) signatures. Each such
signature may be a string that indicates one or more of: vertical
displacement, horizontal displacement, speed of the device, angular
displacement of the device relative to a roll axis, angular
displacement of the device relative to a yaw axis, angular
displacement of the device relative to a pitch axis, jump height,
jump length, jump duration, jump speed, pitch, yaw, (roll, and any
combination thereof. In other words, each of the signatures
indicates at least one movement or event that is characteristic of
a specific exercise (trick).
[0044] Scoring model database 148 comprises scoring models for
different exercises. Application 144 may use the scoring models to
generate scores for different exercises that are performed with
exercise apparatus 110. The scoring model for an exercise specifies
a relationship between one or more exercise characteristics and a
score. The score may be a number or an alphanumerical string (e.g.,
"1", "6", "A", "F", "very good", "excellent", "dangerous", or
"super dangerous"), percentage or other quantitative or qualitative
measure. Each scoring model may be expressed as a formula, table,
or another data structure that is capable of indicating the
relationship. Exercise characteristics that could be considered in
scoring models include jump height, speed, horizontal displacement,
vertical displacement, and angular displacement (e.g., yaw, pitch,
roll). For example, based on a scoring model for a spin exercise, a
user performing a double spin (e.g., double axel) may receive an
"excellent" score whereas a user who performs a single spin only
(e.g., single axel) may receive a "satisfactory" score. In this
example, the score is a measure of a quality of the performance of
the exercise. In other examples, however, the score may reflect a
different characteristic, such as risk of physical injury
associated with performing the exercise, strength or endurance
needed to perform the exercise, and so forth. Put differently, the
scores produced by the scoring models of database 148 may indicate
at least one of skill, courage, endurance, or strength of the user
of the exercise apparatus.
[0045] FIG. 2A is a diagram of an exercise apparatus in accordance
with one example. As shown, portable device 104 is attached to an
exercise apparatus. The attachment may be done by means of a
bracket (not shown). In this example, the exercise apparatus is a
pogo stick 200, for instance a Flybar.RTM., Master.RTM. or
Maverick.RTM. brand pogo stick. The sensor of the pogo stick 200
may include one or more of sensors 202a-b, 204a-b, 206a-b, and
sensor 208, which are depicted in FIG. 2A. Sensors 202a-b are shown
as being mounted on handlebar 210 of the pogo stick 200, and they
may detect whether user's hands are resting on the handlebar 210,
the force applied on the handlebar 210 by the user, or any other
characteristic of the user's grip on the handlebar 210. In one
example, sensors 202a-b may be capacitative touch sensors,
piezoelectric sensors, or any other type of sensor that is capable
of detecting touch.
[0046] In one example, sensor 202a may detect whether the left
member of handlebar 210 is held, whereas sensor 202b may perform
the same function with respect to the right member of handlebar
210. In that regard, sensors 202a-b may be used to determine
whether the user is holding the handlebar 210 with one hand, both
hands, or not holding it at all. This information, in turn, can be
included in the signatures for different actions performed by the
user with the pogo stick 200.
[0047] Similarly, sensors 204a-b detect one or more characteristics
of the user's step on foot support 212. Sensors 204a-b may detect
whether the user feet are resting on the foot support 212, the
force exerted by the user on the foot support 212, or any
characteristic of the user's step on foot support 212. In one
example, sensors 204a-b may be piezoelectric sensors or any another
type of sensor for detecting touch or force. In one example, sensor
204a may detect whether the left member of foot support 212 is
stepped on, whereas sensor 204b may detect whether the right member
of foot support 212 is stepped on. In that regard, sensors 204a-b
may be used to determine whether the user is standing on foot
support 212 using two feet, one foot, or not resting his or her
legs on foot support 212 at all. This information, in turn, can be
included in the signatures for different actions performed by the
user with the pogo stick 200.
[0048] Furthermore, one or more of sensors 204a-b, 202a-b, and
206a-b may be either built into the pogo stick 200 or provided as
aftermarket upgrades. The sensors may be provided separately, such
as with a kit or package of one or more sensors and they may
include an integrated transceiver, cable, or another means for
connecting to device 104. Thus, the user has the flexibility of
adding sensors as desired, depending on the skill of the user
and/or price point desired.
[0049] To enable aftermarket sensor upgrades, the pogo stick 200
may be configured to include one or more receptacles, sockets,
brackets, straps, or another similar structure into which a sensor
can fit or be attached to. Following the installation of
aftermarket-sensors on the pogo stick 200, the aftermarket sensors
may begin transmitting an identifier of pogo stick 200 (that is
programmed into the sensors by a user) or another unique
identifier. Similarly, the device 104 may be programmed to
recognize certain sensor identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses) as being
associated with the pogo stick 200. Accordingly, the device 104 may
discover and begin using aftermarket sensors based on them
transmitting an identifier associated with the pogo stick 200.
[0050] FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate examples of actions that may be
performed by the user with the pogo stick 200. In particular, FIG.
2B illustrates a first action 220 and FIG. 2C illustrates a second
action 240. As shown in FIG. 2B, when action 220 is performed, the
user is holding handlebar 210 with both hands while both of his or
her feet are not touching foot support 212. Sensors 204a-b may
sense that foot support 212 is not being touched and provide
information to this effect to application 244. Application 244, in
turn, may include the information that the feet of the user have
departed from foot support 212 during action 210 in an action
signature thereof. Similarly, with regard to FIG. 2C, sensors
202a-b may provide signals to application 244 indicating that both
members of handlebar 210 are not being held when action 240 is
performed. This information may be included in an action signature
for action 240 that is used to classify the action as a specific
type of exercise (trick).
[0051] Furthermore, in determining what exercises (tricks) are
performed with the pogo stick 200, application 144 may rely on
information from one or more of sensors 206a-b and sensor 208.
Sensor 208, preferably located on or adjacent a distal end of the
pogo stick that impacts the ground, measures the force exerted by
piston 214 on the ground, while sensors 206a-b may be used to
monitor the movement of the pogo stick 200. In this example, sensor
206a-b may include two units spaced along housing 216, but in other
examples it may include any different number of units (e.g., 1, 3,
5 or 10). Sensors 206a-b may each include one or more of an
accelerometer, a gyroscope, or another type of sensor for detecting
at least one characteristic of the movements of the pogo stick 200
while an exercise (trick) is being performed with it.
[0052] As an example, FIGS. 3A-C depict movement and possible
actions that can be performed by the pogo stick 200. The actions
may be classified as a specific type of exercise (trick) based on
information from one or more of the sensors of the pogo stick 200
and/or the portable device 104. FIG. 3A illustrates that there may
be multiple axes associated with the pogo stick 200. For instance,
as shown there is a roll axis 310, a pitch axis 320 and a yaw axis
330. FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary spin exercise (trick) 340,
and FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary flip exercise (trick) 350.
[0053] When trick 340 is performed, at least one of sensors 206a-b
may measure the angular displacement of the pogo stick 200 around
roll axis 310 and feed signal indicating the displacement to
application 144. Application 144 may use the signal to produce a
signature for trick 340. The signature may indicate that the
angular displacement around the roll axis 310 is 360.degree.. After
the signature for trick 340 is produced, it is compared to exercise
signatures in trick database 146 and a determination is made that
trick 340 is a spin based on the comparison. For example, the
signature of the spin trick shown in FIG. 3B may include an
indication of a 360-degree angular displacement along roll axis
310. In that regard by comparing a signature of a movement of the
pogo stick 200, such as trick 340, to signatures for different
exercises, application 144 is able to identify the exercise (trick)
that the movement constitutes.
[0054] As another example, when trick 350 of FIG. 3C is performed,
application 144 may receive signals from one or both of sensors
206a-b indicating the angular displacement of pogo stick 200 around
pitch axis 320. Based on the signal, application 144 may produce a
signature indicating that the pogo stick has rotated 360.degree.
around pitch axis 320. The signature is subsequently compared to
known signatures for different exercises (tricks) and recognized as
matching the signature for a trick identified in the trick database
146 as a flip.
[0055] The exercise (trick) scores generated with the scoring
models of database 148 may desirably be published using a website
or other Internet-accessible location. FIG. 4 illustrates an
exemplary website 400 that can provide one or more authorized users
with information regarding exercises or other tricks performed by
various users. Website 400 may be hosted on server 102 via website
hosting module 150, which may be a conventional website hosting
application. The website 400 may comprise a single web page or a
plurality of web pages, such as web page 402 of FIG. 4 and web page
502 of FIG. 5. In one example, website 400 receives, from portable
device 104, information about exercises performed with an exercise
apparatus such as pogo stick 200. The received information may be
an indication of a score along with an exercise name, raw data
obtained from one or more of the sensors 138 and sensor 136, etc.
In the case where the received information is raw sensor data, as
mentioned, processor 120 of server 102 may execute an instance of
the application 144 in order to identify the exercise (trick)
performed and generate a score for it.
[0056] In addition to portable device 104, website 400 may also
interact with other user devices such as portable device 106 and
portable device 108 to receive information about exercises
performed with exercise apparatuses 112 and 114, respectively.
Website 400 may publish this information in the same way as the
information regarding exercises apparatus 110 (e.g., pogo stick
200). Furthermore, website 400 may be visited by desktop computers,
laptops, and other client devices that are not affiliated with a
given exercise apparatus. Thus, in one aspect, website 400 may be a
social networking website where sporting enthusiasts can meet and
exchange information about their latest achievements in performing
different exercises.
[0057] As FIG. 4 illustrates, the interface of website 400 may
display data regarding the performance of different exercises
(tricks) by different users. For example, tab 410 contains
information about the performance of spins, tab 420 contains
information about the performance of flips, and tab 430 contains
information about one-footers. Clicking on tab 410 displays a
ranking 440 of different users according to exercise scores
received. Although, in this example, users are ranked according to
a score, they can be ranked based on another metric that is
measured by sensors on the exercise apparatus and/or a portable
device associated with that exercise apparatus, such as height of
jump, length of jump, speed, angular displacement, linear
displacement, and acceleration or deceleration. In one example, the
portable device is associated with the given exercise apparatus by
wireless communication between their transceiver modules. In
another example, the portable device may be coupled to the exercise
apparatus via an electrical or optical cable. The portable device
may be mounted to the exercise apparatus, or may be held, worn or
otherwise maintained by the user.
[0058] Furthermore, website 400 may gather statistics about the use
of exercise apparatus 100 by the user. The statistics may be
gathered (or accumulated) by personal device 104 and transmitted to
server 102, or alternatively it may be gathered by website 400. As
shown in FIG. 5, webpage 502 may maintain information regarding
exercises (tricks) associated with one or more users. Such
information may include statistics such as highest number of
consecutive jumps, the longest time spent jumping without pause,
and highest number of consecutive back flips. The information
transmitted to the website 400 or stored in its database may or may
not include certain user information. However, the system may
provide an opt-in feature, whereby some or all of a user's personal
information need not be collected, or may actually be removed in
order to protect the privacy of the user. In another instance,
certain information associated with a given user may only be shared
with other authorized users. In a further instance, some of all of
a user's personal information may be anonymized and/or stored in a
secure, encrypted database.
[0059] Furthermore, the website 400 may be used to provide real
time information to various users and spectators as to what
exercises (trick) are being performed, how well they are performed,
and whether any records have been broken. Users may log on to a web
page, be provided live streaming results, or otherwise may receive
emails, text messages, tweets or other alerts. Thus, in one
scenario, a competition may be performed by users at physically
separate locations, but those users and other spectators may follow
the competition in real time. New tricks may be identified using
data captured by the sensors, and can be shared with others for
enjoyment.
[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates that website 400 may maintain a table
530, which identifies a user's personal records, such as highest
jump, longest jump, most flips, and most spins during the same
jump. Furthermore, webpage 502 may include a list 520 identifying
the different exercises that a given user has performed with his or
her exercise apparatus. The list 520 may also identify a score
received for the exercises (trick) and/or other characteristics of
the exercises that are measured by various sensors, such as height
of jump, length of jump, speed, and acceleration or deceleration.
Webpage 502 may also include a buddy list 540 associated with a
given user. This buddy list 540 may indicate who has access to the
user's exercise/trick information. It may also indicate how such
information may be provided to the people on the buddy list, such
as by an instant message (e.g., SMS, IM), tweet or email.
[0061] In addition to publishing information about exercises
performed with various exercise apparatuses, website 400 may also
distribute copies of the application 144. In one aspect, website
400 may provide the application 144 only to users who have
purchased a specific type of exercise apparatus. Thus, for example,
website 400 may provide copies of the application 144 in response
to proper authentication information, such as a valid serial number
for a specific type of exercise apparatus (e.g., the Flybar.RTM.,
Master.RTM. or Maverick.RTM. brand pogo sticks), user name, email,
and so forth. Such authentication may be done, by way of example
only, after purchase. Alternatively, the application 144 may be
provided to the user upon purchase of the exercise apparatus. For
instance, in this case, if a user purchases an exercise apparatus
such as a pogo stick from a the website of an authorized retailer,
then in one example the application 144 is made available for
download at the time of purchase. This may be done for a fee or for
no extra charge.
[0062] Furthermore, website 400 may also distribute application
upgrades. Website 400 may initially provide a basic or trial
version of application 144 that recognizes a limited set of
exercises. As users become able to perform a greater number of
exercises (or tricks), the basic or trial version could be upgraded
to recognize additional exercises (e.g. triple axel). The upgrades
may come as plug-in installations, software updates or any other
form known in the art. In one instance, the basic version of
application 144 may be provided for free while the upgrades could
be provided for a charge.
[0063] Turning to FIG. 6, this figure depicts a flowchart of a
process 600 that may be performed by application 144. At task 610,
a start event is detected at time t.sub.1. The start event may be a
sensor measurement crossing a predetermined threshold. For example,
the start event may be the force measured by sensor 208 exceeding
600N. The start event may be based on any metric that is measured
by at least one of the sensors 136 and 138, such as speed,
acceleration/deceleration, linear velocity in a vertical direction,
linear velocity in a horizontal direction, angular velocity around
yaw, pitch, and roll axis, has crossed a threshold, height, etc. In
one aspect, the occurrence of the start event may indicate that
exercise apparatus 110 has (or is about to) become airborne. In
another aspect, the occurrence of the start event may indicate that
the user of the exercise apparatus 110 has (or is about to
jump).
[0064] At tasks 620 an action (trick) signature is obtained for the
period between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2. Task 620 is further
described in the discussion with respect to FIG. 7. At task 630, an
end event is detected at time t.sub.2. The end event may be a
sensor measurement crossing a predetermined threshold. For example,
the start event may be the force measured by sensor 208 exceeding
200N. The end event may be based on any characteristic of the usage
of exercise apparatus 110 that is measured by at least one of
sensors 136 and 138, such as speed, acceleration/deceleration,
linear velocity in a vertical direction, linear velocity in a
horizontal direction, angular velocity around yaw, pitch, and roll
axis, has crossed a threshold, height, etc. In one aspect, the
occurrence of the end event may indicate that exercise apparatus
110 has landed, or is about to land, after becoming airborne.
[0065] At task 640, the action performed during the period between
time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 (e.g., trick 340 or trick 350) is
identified. The identification may be performed by matching the
signature obtained at task 620 to exercise signatures found in
trick database 146. For example, trick database 146 may identify
the following set of signatures:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example of Content of Trick Database 146
Signature Exercise Name Signature_1: 360_roll_displacement SPIN
Signature_2: 360_pitch_displacement FLIP Signature_3: only one of
sensors ONE-FOOTER 241a-b indicates that it is touched
[0066] At If the signature obtained at task 620 matches signature
1, the action performed during the period between time t.sub.1 and
t.sub.2 is classified as a spin.
[0067] At task 650, a score associated with the exercise signature
is determined based on a scoring model for the identified exercise.
The scoring model is obtained from scoring model database 148.
[0068] At task 660, the portable device outputs a string associated
with the identified exercise. For example, the string could by the
name of the exercise or the score calculated at task 650.
Alternatively, the string may be based on a measurement obtained by
one of the sensors 136-138. For example, the string may indicate
number of complete rotations around an axis, acceleration, speed,
height of jump, and length of jump. In one aspect, the string may
be output visually on a display screen of portable device 104 or,
alternatively, it could be rendered in audible format by using a
speaker on portable device 170. Although, in this example a string
associated with the exercise is output, in other example, another
indication of the exercise characteristic may be output, such as an
image, animation, sound, or vibration, among others.
[0069] At task 670, the portable device outputs a statistical
measure relating to the use of a corresponding exercise apparatus.
The statistical measure may be output visually on a display screen
of portable device 104 or, alternatively, it may be output as sound
by a speaker on portable device 104. The statistical measure may
relate to a count of exercises from a specific type being
performed, and a count of consecutive repetitions of one or more
exercise. Furthermore, the output statistical measure may be
associated with a distribution of measurements of a given parameter
that are obtained from sensors 136-138 (e.g. average/median/maximum
jump height across a set of performed exercises).
[0070] At task 680, information about the identified exercise is
transmitted to website 400. In one aspect, the transmitted
information may include the name of the exercise and/or the score
obtained at task 650. In another aspect, the transmitted
information may include the signature obtained at task 620 and/or
raw data from one of the sensors 136 or 138. In yet another aspect,
the transmitted information may include statistical information
that is based, at least partially, on one or more attributes of the
exercise performed in the period between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2
(e.g., jump height, speed, angular displacement, etc.).
[0071] FIG. 7, depicts a flowchart 700 of the subtasks associated
with obtaining an exercise signature. In this example, task 620
includes obtaining one or more frames of measurements during the
period between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 (710) and determining a
signature for the action performed in the period between time
t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 based on the frames (720).
[0072] At task 710, one or more frames of sensor measurements are
obtained. Each frame may include data measured by sensor(s) 136,
sensor(s) 138 or both. The frames may be captured during the period
starting at time t.sub.1 and ending at time t.sub.2. The
measurements in each frame of measurements may be taken at
approximately the same time or during a predetermined time window
(e.g., within 3, 5, 20, 100 or 300 milliseconds from one another).
In one example, each of the captured frames may indicate: linear
acceleration (or deceleration) of exercise apparatus 110 (e.g.,
vertical, horizontal), linear velocity of exercise apparatus 110
(e.g., vertical, horizontal), linear displacement of exercise
apparatus 110 (e.g., vertical, horizontal), angular acceleration of
exercise apparatus 110 around at least one of roll axis 310, pitch
axis 320, and yaw axis 330, angular velocity of exercise apparatus
110 around at least one of roll axis 310, pitch axis 320, and yaw
axis 330, angular displacement of exercise apparatus 110 around at
least one of roll axis 310, pitch axis 320, and yaw axis 330, force
exerted on piston 214, information about how a user is holding
exercise apparatus 110, the information being obtained from at
least one of sensors 202a-b and 204a-b, jump height, jump distance,
pitch, yaw, roll, or any combination thereof.
[0073] At task 720, a signature of the actions of the exercise
apparatus in the time period between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 is
determined. The signature is based on at least at least one metric
that is measured by at least one of the sensor 136 and/or 138, and
is indicated in at least of the frames obtained at task 710. In one
aspect, one of the frames captured at task 710 may become the
signature. For instance, the frame captured at or around time
t.sub.2 may be used as a signature because that frame is likely to
indicate the total displacement (angular or liner) over the course
of the period between t.sub.1 and t.sub.2. Alternatively, a frame
that contains the greatest value for some type of measurement may
be chosen, such as the frame indicating the greatest jump height,
the frame indicating the greatest jump length, the frame indicating
greatest angular displacement and so forth.
[0074] In another aspect, information from multiple measurement
frames may be used to form the signature. For example, the
signature may be set to include one or more measurement maxima,
such as maximum height reached by the exercise apparatus during a
jump and maximum angular displacement.
[0075] In yet another aspect, an indication of displacement that is
included in the signature may be calculated from information found
in multiple frames. For example, a pitch measurement found in a
frame taken at time t.sub.1 and a pitch measurement found in a
frame taken at time t.sub.2 may be used to calculate total angular
displacement of the exercise apparatus around pitch axis 320. In
that regard, indications of displacement (either angular or linear)
that are included in the signature may either be obtained from
individual frames or, alternatively, they may be calculated based
on information that is found in a set of two or more of the frames
obtained at task 710.
[0076] Furthermore, the signature may be set to indicate the value
of a first characteristic that is measured by the sensors at the
time when a second characteristic has a predetermined value. The
predetermined value can be an absolute value (e.g. jump height=1 m)
or alternatively, it can be a relative value based on the
statistical distribution of the measurements of the second
characteristic across multiple frames captured at task 710. For
example, a signature may include an indication of angular
displacement at the time when exercise apparatus was at the
greatest height in the air. In this example, the second
characteristic is height (e.g., vertical displacement) and the
predetermined value is defined as being the maximum height measured
during the period between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2. In other
examples, the predetermined value may depend on a statistical
property, other than distribution maximum, of the set measurements
of the second characteristic, such as a distribution minimum or
standard deviation.
[0077] FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of a process 800 that may be
performed by website 400. At task 810, website 400 provides a copy
of application 144 to a portable device. At task 820, website 400
transmits an upgrade of application 144 to the portable device. As
a result of the upgrade, application 144 becomes able to recognize
an additional exercise that is not recognized by the previous
version of application 144 transmitted at task 810. In one aspect,
the upgrade may configure trick database 146 to include an entry
(e.g., signature and name) for the additional exercise. In another
aspect, the scoring model database 148 may also be modified to
include a scoring model for the additional exercise.
[0078] At task 830, website 400 receives the information
transmitted at task 680. As discussed, the received information may
include the name of the exercise and/or the score obtained at task
650. In another aspect, the transmitted information may include the
signature obtained at task 620 and/or raw data from one or more of
the sensors 136-138.
[0079] At task 840, an indication of a characteristic of the
exercise performed by the exercise apparatus during the time period
between time t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 is published. The publishing may
involve displaying the indication on website 400, or alternatively,
it may involve sending the indication to one or more users from the
user's buddy list 540, for instance in the form of an instant
message (e.g., SMS, IM), tweet or email. The published exercise
characteristic may be exercise name, exercise score, height of
jump, angular displacement, or any other characteristic that can be
determined based on data received from sensor(s) 136 and/or
sensor(s) 138.
[0080] At task 850, a statistical measure for the user is updated.
As mentioned above, the statistical measure may relate to a count
of exercises from a specific type being performed, a count of
consecutive repetitions of one or more exercises, average jump
height across a set of exercises, and so forth. The updating may
involve recalculating the statistical measure so that it reflects
the information at obtained at task 840.
[0081] At task 860, the updated statistical measure is published.
The publishing may involve displaying the indication on website
400, providing the information on the user's portable device,
and/or sending the indication in an instant message, text or email
to one or more other people from the user's buddy list 540.
[0082] FIGS. 6-8 are provided as examples. In some aspects, at
least some of the tasks associated with FIGS. 6-8 may be performed
in a different order than represented or performed concurrently.
Furthermore, in some aspects, some of tasks in FIGS. 6-8 may be
altogether omitted.
[0083] As discussed, one or more sensors may be provided on a given
exercise apparatus to measure movements and other characteristics
of that apparatus. In one alternative, the sensor(s) may be built
into the apparatus. In another alternative, sensors may be added to
the apparatus. For instance, an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope
may be secured to or otherwise integrated with the apparatus. The
sensors of the exercise apparatus may transmit information directly
to the website 400 or may locally communicate with a user's
portable device as explained above. If sensors are added to the
apparatus, they may be sold/distributed as part of the exercise
apparatus, or may be provided separately, such as with a kit or
package of one or more sensors. Thus, the user has the flexibility
of adding sensors as desired, depending on the skill of the user
and/or price point desired.
[0084] As these and other variations and combinations of the
features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the
subject matter as defined by the claims, the foregoing description
of exemplary aspects should be taken by way of illustration rather
than by way of limitation of the subject matter as defined by the
claims. It will also be understood that the provision of the
examples described herein (as well as clauses phrased as "such as,"
"e.g.", "including" and the like) should not be interpreted as
limiting the claimed subject matter to the specific examples;
rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only some of many
possible aspects.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0085] The present invention enjoys wide industrial applicability
including, but not limited to, information gathering, data
processing and social networking regarding activities performed on
sporting equipment such as exercise apparatus.
* * * * *