System and method for interactive on-demand information
AssigneeClubcom, Inc.
InventorsLev D. Virine, Barry Yee, Todd G. Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interactive on-demand information network is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the system and method of the present invention generates and/or delivers information, such as audio, video and/or the like, to a user, such as a user of an exercise equipment in a gym or club environment, preferably based on the demographics of the user. The information may be provided to the user using one or more of a plurality of channels. A selected plurality of these channels provides the information to the user in analog form and the remaining channels provide the information in digital form.
Claims60
A method for load balancing between a plurality of channels including analog channels and digital channels for providing on-demand information to a user in a local network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request for on-demand information from a user;
- determining the number of allocated digital channels in said network;
- allocating a digital channel from said plurality of channels, if the number of allocated digital channels is less than an optimal number of channels, to provide the user requested information to said user in digital format;
- determining the number of available analog channels if the number of allocated digital channels is not less than said optimal number of channels;
- allocating an analog channel, if said determined number of available analog channels is greater than zero, to provide said user requested information to said user in analog format;
- allocating a digital channel, if said determined number of allocated digital channels is less than the number of said plurality of digital channels and said determined number of available analog channels is zero, to provide said user requested information to said user in digital format;
- and
- canceling said request received from said user if said determined number of allocated digital channels is not less than the number of said plurality of digital channels and said determined number of available analog channels is zero.
An interactive on-demand information network for providing targeted information to one or more users via analog and digital channels, comprising:
- a central network under the control of a network operator;
- and
- at least one local information network communicatively connected to said central network, wherein said local network is located at a fitness club, wherein said local information network comprises:
- a local server for storing information received from said central network;
- at least one monitor connected to said local server for displaying information received from a third party via said local server, wherein said third party is selected from the group consisting of a cable TV operator, and a satellite TV operator;
- and
- at least one personal unit connected to said local server for presenting demographically targeted information to said user, wherein said personal unit is associated with an exercise equipment being used by said user, wherein said demographically targeted information is generated based in part on a demographic profile of said user stored in said local server, and wherein said information presented to said user is updated based in part on an activity of said user on said exercise equipment.
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium for load balancing between a plurality of channels including analog channels and digital channels for providing on-demand information to a user in a local network, comprising:
- code for receiving a request for on-demand information from a user;
- code for determining the number of allocated digital channels in said network;
- code for allocating a digital channel from said plurality of channels, if the number of allocated digital channels is less than an optimal number of channels, to provide the user requested information to said user in digital format;
- code for determining the number of available analog channels if the number of allocated digital channels is not less than said optimal number of channels;
- code for allocating an analog channel, if said determined number of available analog channels is greater than zero, to provide said user requested information to said user in analog format;
- code for allocating a digital channel, if said determined number of allocated digital channels is less than the number of said plurality of digital channels and said determined number of available analog channels is zero, to provide said user requested information to said user in digital format;
- and
- code for canceling said request received from said user if said determined number of allocated digital channels is not less than the number of said plurality of digital channels and said determined number of available analog channels is zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.