US 6,902,513 B1 · Interactive fitness equipment

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a computerized fitness equipment that is designed to simulate, emulate, or implement actual race conditions with other users. An exemplar fitness equipment includes at least one operating component and sensors to monitor performance parameters of the at least one operating component (such as speed of movement). A display is also provided, along with logic to provide a visual display of a user's performance (as measured through the first performance parameters). In one embodiment, a communication interface is provided to communicate the first performance parameters to at least one remote, similarly-configured, fitness equipment. Performance parameters from the remote fitness equipment are also received through the communication interface. The fitness equipment includes logic to compare the first performance parameters with performance parameters received from remote fitness equipment and display the results in a comparative fashion to the user.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for interactive fitness comprising:

a server;
a plurality of geographically-separated fitness equipment configured for communication with the server via a wide-area network, each of the fitness equipment comprising:
at least one operating component;
logic configured to obtain first performance parameters from the at least one operating component;
logic configured to communicate the first performance parameters to a remote fitness equipment via the wide-area network and the server;
logic configured to receive second performance parameters communicated from at least one remote fitness equipment;
a communication interface through which data may be communicated to and from the fitness equipment;
a display associated with the fitness equipment;
and
logic configured to drive the display in response to both the first and second performance parameters, such that a performance comparison between the fitness equipment and at least one remote fitness equipment is visually displayed;
and
a computer program executed by the server to configure the server for coordinating the communication among the plurality of fitness equipment, such that a plurality of the geographically-separated fitness equipment may simulate interactive exercise events.

9 more elements

An interactive fitness equipment comprising:

at least one operating component configured to provide an aspect of exercise for a user of the fitness equipment;
logic configured to obtain first performance parameters from the at least one operating component;
a memory for storing course data;
a display;
and
at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
(1) logic configured to control an aspect of the at least one operating component based on both the first performance parameters and information from stored course data;
(2) logic configured to control the display in response to both the first performance parameters and information from stored course data;
(3) logic configured to permit a user to select at least one competitive racer, the at least one competitive racer being defined by data stored in a memory;
(4) a communications interface and logic for controlling the download of course data through a communication interface;
(5) speech processing logic configured to recognize certain spoken commands and adjust operating parameters of the fitness equipment in response thereto;
(6) a communications interface and logic for controlling the download and installation of a software upgrade through a communication interface;
and
(7) a heart-rate sensor and logic configured to control the display to display a current position of a user in a course defined by the course data, the current position of the user being based upon the first performance parameters, further including logic configured to control the display to display a simulated competitive racer, wherein the position and speed of the competitive racer are based upon a combination of the first performance parameters, an output from the heart-rate sensor, and a target heart rate the user, whereby when the output from the heart-rate sensor exceeds the target heart rate, the speed of the simulated competitive racer is less than the speed measured from the first performance parameters and when the target heart rate exceeds the output from the heart-rate sensor, the speed of the simulated competitive racer is greater than the speed measured from the first performance parameters.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive fitness equipment

Life of this patent

Interactive fitness equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20