Methods and systems for controlling an exercise apparatus using a USB compatible portable remote device

An exercise system including a portable physical activity monitoring system for use by a user during physical activity and a separate computing system, wherein:

• the portable physical activity monitoring system comprises:
• a sensor configured to be associated with the user and configured to sense at least one physical activity parameter related to the physical activity of the user;
• a feedback element configured to provide data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the user;
• and
• a control element configured to communicate with the sensor and the feedback element,
• wherein the sensor communicates data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the control element, the control element communicates the data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the feedback element, and the control element is configured to store the data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter;
• and
• the separate computing system comprises:
• a communication device for receiving physical activity related information from the portable physical activity sensing system;
• a memory configured to store physical activity related information regarding the user of the portable physical activity sensing system;
• and
• a processor configured to analyze and update information received from the portable physical activity sensing system,
• wherein the communication device sends information either to the portable physical activity sensing system, to the user of the portable physical activity sensing system, or to both the user and the portable physical activity sensing system, and
• wherein the portable physical activity sensing system records information about the user's physical activity and sends the information to the separate computing system, the separate computing system updates the user's stored information with the information received from the portable physical activity sensing system, and wherein the user may access the updated information stored by the separate computing system.

A monitoring system for use by a user during physical activity, the monitoring system, comprising:

• communication means for receiving physical activity related information from a portable physical activity sensing system, the portable physical activity sensing system comprising:
• a sensor configured to be associated with a user and configured to sense at least one physical activity parameter related to physical activity of the user;
• a feedback element configured to provide data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the user;
• and
• a control element configured to communicate with the sensor, the feedback element, and the communication means,
• wherein the sensor communicates data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the control element, the control element communicates data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the feedback element and to the communication means, and the control element is configured to store data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter;
• means for storing physical activity related information regarding the user of the portable physical activity sensing system;
• and
• means for analyzing and updating information about the user based on the information received from the user of the portable physical activity sensing system,
• wherein the communication means sends information either to the portable physical activity sensing system, to the user of portable physical activity sensing system, or to both the user and the portable physical activity sensing system.

A portable physical activity sensing system for use by a user during physical activity, the portable physical activity sensing system comprising:

• a sensor configured to be associated with the user, wherein the sensor is configured to sense at least one physical activity parameter related to physical activity of the user;
• a feedback element configured to provide data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the user;
• and
• a control element including a processor, wherein the control element is configured to communicate with the sensor and the feedback element, wherein the control element receives information from the sensor regarding the at least one physical activity parameter, wherein the control element sends information to the feedback element regarding the information received from the sensor, wherein the control element is configured to store information regarding the at least one physical activity parameter, exercise programs, motivational content, or any combination thereof, and wherein the control element is configured to send and receive information to and from a remote computing system, wherein the remote computing system comprises:
• a communication device configured to receive physical activity related information from the portable physical activity sensing system;
• a memory configured to store physical activity related information regarding the user of the portable physical activity sensing system;
• and
• a processor configured to analyze and update information received from the portable physical activity sensing system,
• wherein the communication device sends information either to the portable physical activity sensing system, to the user of the portable physical activity sensing system, or to both the user and the portable physical activity sensing system, and
• wherein the remote computing system updates the user's stored information with the information received from the portable physical activity sensing system, and wherein the user may access the updated information stored by the remote computing system.

An exercise system, comprising:

• a portable physical activity sensing system comprising:
• a sensor configured to be associated with a user and configured to sense at least one physical activity parameter related to physical activity of the user;
• a feedback element configured to provide data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the user;
• and
• a control element configured to communicate with the sensor and the feedback element,
• wherein the sensor communicates data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the control element, the control element communicates data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter to the feedback element, and the control element is configured to store data representative of the sensed at least one physical activity parameter;
• and
• a remote communication system comprising:
• communication means for receiving physical activity related information from the portable physical activity sensing system;
• means for storing physical activity related information regarding the user of the portable physical activity sensing system;
• and
• means for analyzing and updating information received from the portable physical activity sensing system,
• wherein the communication means sends information either to the portable physical activity sensing system, to the user of the portable physical activity sensing system, or to both the user and the portable physical activity sensing system, and
• wherein the portable physical activity sensing system records information about the user's physical activity and sends the information to the remote communication system, the remote communication system updates the user's stored information with the information received from the portable physical activity sensing system, and wherein the user may access the updated information stored by the remote communication system.

An exercise system including a portable physical activity sensing system capable of being carried by a user during the user's performance of physical activity and a separate communication system, wherein:

• the portable physical activity sensing system comprises:
• a control device configured to communicate with the remote communication system, the control device configured to send physical activity information to the communication system, the physical activity information comprising data representative of at least one measurable parameter of the user;
• a sensor configured to track at least one measurable parameter of the user and to deliver data representative of the at least one measureable parameter to the control device for delivery to the communication system;
• and
• a delivery device communicating with the control device, the delivery device presenting at least one of an audio representation or a visual representation of the physical activity information to the user;
• and
• the separate communication system comprises:
• communication means for receiving physical activity related information from the portable physical activity sensing system;
• means for storing physical activity related information regarding the user of the portable physical activity sensing system;
• and
• means for analyzing and updating information received from the portable physical activity sensing system, wherein the separate communication system updates the user's stored information with the information received from the portable physical activity sensing system, wherein the user may access the updated information stored by the separate communication system.