US006059692A
`6,059,692
`(114) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 55
`Hickman
`[45] Date of Patent:
`May 9, 2000
`
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR REMOTE INTERACTIVE
`EXERCISE AND HEALTH EQUIPMENT
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Paul L. Hickman, 27140 Moody Rd.,
`Los Altos Hills, Calif. 94022
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/766,513
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 13, 1996
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/008,603, Dec. 14, 1995.
`[60]
`Tint, C07 oc cceeeescccsssssseececeesnnneeeeees A63B 21/00
`[SD]
`[52] U.S. Ch. eee 482/8; 482/4; 482/9; 482/901;
`607/2
`
`[58] Field of Search 0.eee 482/1-9, 54, 57,
`482/900-902; 600/300, 520, 418; 607/2,
`19, 32
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`......
`5,474,090 12/1995 Begun et al.
`5,501,104
`1/1997 Andrus et al. vesccssccccsseseeeeeee 482/901
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An exercise system includes a local system having an
`exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where
`the local computer controls and monitors the operation and
`use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system
`further includes a remote system having a remote computer,
`and a transmission medium including a telephoneline that
`couples the local system to the remote system for data
`communication between the local system and the remote
`system. The remote system may receive local system data
`from the local system concerning the use of the exercise
`apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system
`data from the remote system concerning the operation of the
`exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls
`the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modi-
`fiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local
`computer, which can be updated by the remote system. A
`method for controlling an exercise apparatus includes run-
`ning a modifiable script on a local computer to control the
`use and to monitor the operation of an exercise apparatus,
`and communicating with a remote system to provide the
`remote system with data concerning the use of the exercise
`apparatus. The script is stored in read/write memory of the
`local computer and remote system data received from the
`remote system may includeatleast a portion of a new script
`to be stored in the read/write memory of the local computer.
`
`Primary Examiner—Glenn E. Richman
`
`6 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
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`con
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`78
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`76
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`COMPUTER
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`SERVER
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`APPLE 1104
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`APPLE 1104
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`MASS| ms a =nM
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`system 104
`REMOTE
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`PROCESS
`PROCESS
`PROCESS
`EXERCISE
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`LOCAL SYSTEM
`REMOTE
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`ACTIVITY
`ACTIVITY
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`ACTIVITY
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`Sheet 3 of 9
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`6,059,692
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`WELCOME
`GREETING
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`110 hig #
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`USER
`SELECTS
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`SYSTEM
`SELECTS
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`DETECT USER
`SCRIPT
`SELECTION
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`106
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` 114
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`SESSION
`SCRIPT
`SELECTION
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`DETECT & RECORD
`USER ACTIVITY
`PROVIDE FEEDBACK
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`720
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`MODIFIABLE
`SESSION?
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`NO
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`MODIFY SESSION
`BASED UPON SCRIPT
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`AND USER ACTIVITY
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`SESSION
`COMPLETED?
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`122
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`YES
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`UPDATE SESSION
`RECORDS, UPDATE
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`SCRIPTS (AS REQ'D)
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`124
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`4
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`on)
`130 |
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`NEEDED?
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`RECORD EXERCISE
`PARAMETERS
`RELATIVE TO SCRIPT
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`116
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`134
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`ENCOURAGEMENT
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`ENCOURAGE
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`136
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`CAUTION
`NEEDED?
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`NO
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`138
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`CAUTION
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`132
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`140
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`YES|PROVIDE DESCRIPTION
`SCRIPT
`OF UPCOMING SCRIPT
`REVIEW?
`EVENTS
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`NO
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`144(
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`)
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`LOCAL
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`COMMUNICATION
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`COMMUNICATE
`WITH USER
`TO EXERCISE
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`6
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`U.S. Patent
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`ETC.
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`—10 MINUTES CYCLING
`—232 CALORIES
`—6 MINUTES AT 80% HEARTRATE
`—1.8 MILES
`—DIFFICULTY 6
`—10 MINUTES WEIGHTS
`—172 CALORIES
`—20 REPS @ 100LBS
`—20 REPS @ 80LBS
`TUESDAY
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`RoSOISES
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`ree 4
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`SUNDAY
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`NO EXERCISE
`MONDAY
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`Gig. 5b
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`NOILOANNOOATdILINWWOYS
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`6,059,692
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`1
`APPARATUS FOR REMOTE INTERACTIVE
`EXERCISE AND HEALTH EQUIPMENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of copending U.S.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/008,603, entitled
`“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE INTER-
`ACTIVE EXERCISE AND HEALTH EQUIPMENT,”filed
`Dec. 14, 1995 on behalf of Paul L. Hickman, which is
`hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates generally to health and exercise
`equipment, and more particularly to computer networked
`systems including health or exercise equipment.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Good health is a fundamental requirementfor a happy and
`long life. A multi-billion dollar health and fitness industry
`has grown to help individuals meet this requirement. For
`example, there are a great many gymnasiums whichprovide
`facilities and equipment
`for aerobic and musculature
`development, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of
`weight loss and diet centers and programs. The goals of
`these many programs typically includes weight loss and/or
`maintenance, the improvementof aerobic fitness, improved
`circulation, increased strength, and body building or shap-
`ing.
`There are several problems encountered with the use of
`gymnasiums,fitness centers, and diet centers. For one, they
`tend to be fairly expensive due to the need to maintain the
`facilities, pay rent and payroll, buy equipment, etc.
`In
`addition, these centers tend to be inconvenient in that they
`require a special trip to the center by individuals wishing to
`use their facilities. Both the price and the inconvenience tend
`to discourage use of these centers over time, allowing the
`individuals to lose incentive and drop out of their fitness or
`diet program.
`A partial solution to this problem is home exercise and
`health equipment. Again, a large industry has arisen to
`provide exercise and health equipment for the home. This
`equipment tends to be more of the aerobic type, e.g. sta-
`tionary bicycles, rowing machines, “step” machines, etc.,
`although weightlifting apparatus, sometimes referred to as
`“resistance trainers,” are also widely used in the home.
`These types of home exercise and health equipmentincreas-
`ingly use sophisticated electronics, such as microprocessors,
`to monitor the level of exercise and to provide exercise
`programsfor the user.
`Unfortunately, even well designed home exercise and
`health equipment often fall into disuse over time. This is
`because individuals, even in their own home, often lack the
`incentive to exercise when there are other, more enjoyable,
`activities available. Also, since there is typically not the
`camaraderie often found in a health club, diet center,etc., it
`is easier for users, as individuals,
`to discontinue their
`exercise or diet program.
`Personal trainers have been used bothat fitness clubs and
`
`in the home. Personal trainers are individuals who usually
`have a fitness training background and whotypically pro-
`vide personal training services to an individual customers.
`Personal trainers can be very effective in that they provide
`personal motivation and feedback to an individual in the
`exercise program, and thus often foster a more effective and
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`longer-lasting exercise program. The downside of personal
`trainers is, particularly in the homesetting, their relatively
`high cost. It is not unusual for a personal trainer to charge
`hundreds of dollars per month for their services. Therefore,
`while these personaltrainers are very effective, they tend to
`be used by only a small percentage of the population.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides an exercise and health
`system which is convenient, affordable, and effective. The
`system includes computerized exercise and/or health equip-
`ment (the “local system”) that can provide feedback and
`encouragement
`to the user,
`i.e. can serve as a “virtual
`personal trainer.” In addition, the system includes a remote
`computer system communicating over a bidirectional data
`channel with the exercise and health equipment. Still further,
`the system can include a server computer system that is in
`communication with the remote computer systems to pro-
`vide bi-directional data communication with the remote
`computer systems.
`Since the exercise and health equipment can communicate
`with the user, it 1s possible for the health equipment to
`provide incentive and motivation to the user much in the
`same fashion as a human personaltrainer. In addition, the
`health and exercise equipment can store data and other
`parameters concerning the exercise or other activities which
`can be used to monitor the progress and to vary the exercise
`program orscript. In this way, the local system can serve as
`a “virtual personal trainer.”
`The remote system computeris preferably associated with
`a number of exercise and health locations. The remote
`
`system computer can be considered to be the communication
`tool of a human personal trainer, as opposed to the “virtual
`personal trainer” emulated by software in the local system
`computer. For example, the remote system computer can be
`associated with one hundred local systems (used by one or
`more individuals in, for example, their homes), and can be
`used to upload information from the exercise and health
`equipmentof a local system to be analyzed by the personal
`trainer at the remote computer. The personaltrainer can then
`call the individual user to provide additional instruction,
`encouragement, and cautions, and the remote system com-
`puter can download new exercise scripts or programsto the
`local system computer to implement these changes.
`The server system computer serves a number of remote
`system computers. For example, while a remote system
`computer might serve one hundred local system computers,
`the server system computer might serve as one hundred
`remote system computers. The server system computer can
`communicate with other server system computers (“peer”
`servers), or with a yet higher order server system computers
`for the consolidation, storage, processing, and exchange of
`data. The server system computer can be used to commu-
`nicate with the remote system computers for the uploading
`of data concerning the remote system computer and the local
`system computers that the remote system computer is in
`contact with, and it can also download new programs and
`other data and information to the remote system computers.
`For example, a server system computer or peer system
`computer might design a dietary program for a particular
`user which is then downloaded into the remote system
`computer for subsequent communication to the individual
`user of a local system.
`The systems, methods, and apparatus of the present
`invention therefore can provide an effective exercise,
`dietary, and health program for a great numberof individu-
`
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`6,059,692
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`3
`als. The computerized health equipment provides incentive
`and encouragement
`to stay in the program, due to the
`“virtual personal trainer” of the local system, the human
`personal trainer of the remote system, and by the various
`services provided by the enterprise as a whole as supported
`by the server systems, peer systems, etc. For example, a
`variety of services of products can be offered to the users of
`the system to further their health and fitness goals.
`These and other advantages of the present invention will
`become apparent upon the rating of the following descrip-
`tions and the study of the figures of the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a health and fitness system
`in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the local, remote, and server
`system computers of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process running on a local
`system computer of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the “PROCESS EXERCISE
`ACTIVITY”step of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the “DETECT AND RECORD
`USER ACTIVITY, PROVIDE FEEDBACK”step of FIG. 4;
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a “PROCESS LOCAL
`SYSTEM ACTIVITY”step of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the “PROCESS REMOTE
`ACTIVITY”step of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a process running on a remote
`system computer of the present invention;
`FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c are three examples of data analysis
`performed in the “PROCESS DATA”step 176 of FIG. 8; and
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a process running on a server
`system computer of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`In FIG. 1, a health and fitness system 10 in accordance
`with the present
`invention includes one or more local
`systems 12, one or more remote systems 14, and one or more
`server systems 16. The local systems 12 are typically
`home-based systems designed for the promotion of the
`health and fitness of individual users within a family. The
`remote systems 14 may be homeor business based, and are
`used as data gathering and storage stations, as well as
`communication stations, between a human personal trainer
`and users of local systems 12. As will be discussed in greater
`detail subsequently, the remote system 14 is associated with
`a relatively large numberof local systems 12, e.g. a personal
`trainer with a remote system might be in communication
`with 100 or more individual users of local systems 12. This
`is made possible, in part, by providing a “virtual personal
`trainer” at each of the local stations 12 to partially or fully
`replace the need for a human personaltrainer at the local
`station. The server systems 16 can communicate with the
`remote systems 14 to provide server and control functions
`acrossthe entire enterprise, i.e. over the entire system 10. As
`also will be discussed in greater detail subsequently,
`the
`server system 16 is associated with a number of remote
`systems 14.
`The local system 12 includes one or more health orfitness
`devices such as a stationary bicycle 18, a weight or “resis-
`tance trainer” 20, a scale 22, etc. Associated with a local
`system 12 is a computer 24 which,
`in this preferred
`embodiment, is integrated into the stationary bicycle 18. A
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`stationary bicycle as a “base unit”is given merely by way of
`example, as any piece of equipment (a rowing machine, a
`step machine, etc.) could house the computer 24, or the
`computer 24 could be housed separately. The computer 24
`can serve as a “local server” for other health and fitness
`
`devices at local system 12, such as the weighttrainer 20 and
`the scale 22. Alternatively, a separate local server 26 can be
`used to control and/or support various devices in local
`system 12 via data and control lines 28, and communicate
`with the remote system 14 via a telephone line 30 and a
`modem 32. However, in the present preferred embodiment,
`the assumption is that the local server 26 and modem 32 are
`not required and that the computer 24 will serve not only to
`control the operation and data gathering function of the
`stationary bicycle 18, but will also provide these functions
`for the weight trainer 20 and the scale 22. Of course, the
`weight trainer 20 and the scale 22 may include their own
`computer systems for local control purposes.
`The stationary bicycle 18 includes a housing 34 which,as
`stated previously, preferably houses the computer 24, a
`crank 36 provided with a pair of pedals 38, a seat 40
`supported by a seat stem 42, handle bar 34 supported by
`handle bar stem 46,
`legs 48, and feet 50. The various
`components of the stationary bicycle 18 are typically
`attached to a rigid frame that is internal to the housing 34.
`The weight
`trainer 20 is preferably a resistance-type
`weight trainer, such as a bench press machine, a biceps curl
`machine, a squat machine, etc. Typically the use grasps a bar
`connected to a cable that is attached to a resistance device.
`This resistance device can be weights, or can be an active
`resistance device such as a motor, or a passive resistance
`device such as an electrically actuated brake. In any event,
`the amount of resistance to movementof the bar is prefer-
`ably under the control of the computer 24 and the script that
`it is running. The scale 22 preferably provides an electrical
`connection to the computer 24 through an I/O port to allow
`the computer 24 to monitor the weight of the person standing
`on the scale.
`
`The computer 24 is coupled to a variety of input/output
`(I/O) devices including a brake 52, a sensor 54,a display 56,
`a heart rate monitor (HRM) 59, a loudspeaker 58, an
`interface 60, a modem 62, and a voice board 64. In this
`fashion, the computer 24 can control and monitorthe various
`functions of the stationary bicycle 18.
`More particularly, computer 24 can, under software and
`hardware control, control the electrically actuated brake 52
`whichis coupled to the crank 36 of the stationary bicycle. In
`this fashion,
`the pedaling force that must be exerted on
`pedals 38 to cause the crank 36 to rotate at a given speed can
`be varied under computer control. This electrically actuated
`brake can be electric/mechanical brake, electric/magnetic
`brake, etc. as it is well known to those skilled in the art. The
`sensor 54 is typically used to determine the rotations-per-
`minute (RPM)ofthe crank 36. In this way, the computer 24
`can receive information concerning the level of effort being
`exerted by a user of the stationary bicycle 18. Rotation
`sensors are well known those skilled in the art. The sensor
`
`54 can also measure other parameters such as the force
`(torque) being applied to pedal 38, again to provide infor-
`mation to the computer asto the level of effort being exerted
`by the user of the bicycle.
`The computer can provide an output on a display 56 that
`can be viewed byan individual user sitting on seat 40. This
`display can be a simple light display, e.g. a series of light
`emitting diodes (LEDs)orit can be a full video display. A
`preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a
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`5
`full video display to provide instructions and encouragement
`to a user of the stationary bicycle. For example, an image of
`a “virtual personal trainer” can be provided on the video
`display 56. This imageis preferably the image of the human
`personal trainer who is in charge of the remote system 14.
`The loudspeaker 58 provides another important commu-
`nication medium to the user of the stationary bicycle 18. For
`example, under computer 24 control, the user can be told
`with either a digitally synthesizedor digitally recorded voice
`to pedal faster, pedal slower, that they are doing a good job,
`etc. Of course, analog recording techniques can be used as
`well, but are considered to be less flexible and desirable.
`Preferably,
`the voice being used is that of the personal
`trainer associated with the remote system 14 that oversees
`that local system 12. Both voice synthesis and digital voice
`recording on computer systems 24 are well knownto those
`skilled in the art.
`
`A local interface 60 can be used to couple the computer
`24 to additional health and fitness devices. In this instance,
`the local interface 60 is coupled to the weight trainer 20 and
`to the scale 22. This additional health and fitness systems can
`either “dumb” systems with limited digital computation and
`storage capabilities, or they can include full fledged com-
`puter system such as the computer system 24. In the present
`embodiment,
`the weight trainer 20 and scale 22 include
`digital control circuitry (e.g. a microcontroller) which can
`communicate with the more powerful computer 24 of the
`stationary bicycle 18. The various I/O devices, such as the
`loudspeaker 58 can be used in conjunction with these other
`devices 20 and 22, e.g. the weight detected by the scale 22
`can be announced on the loudspeaker 58 along with an
`indication thatthis is an increase or decrease in weight from
`the last session. Also, as mentioned previously, the weight
`trainer 20 can include the equivalent of the electrically
`control brake 52 which allowsthe resistance of the weight
`bar or handle to be varied to provide resistance (“weight”)
`training. This control of the break within the weight trainer
`20 can be controlled by a “script” of the computer 24.
`The computer 24 is also coupled to a modem 62 for
`communication over a telephone line 30. Alternatively, the
`computer 24 can be coupled to the remote computer 14 by
`other communication linkages, such as ISDN digital trans-
`mission line, via a local area network, or via a wide area
`network (WAN) such as the Internet. In other words, the
`telephone line 30 represents only one type of data commu-
`nication channel between the local systems 12 and the
`remote system 14.
`The present embodiment also includes a voice board 64
`which can bypass the modem such that the loudspeaker 58
`can be driven directly to the telephone line 30 in an analog
`fashion. Combination modem/voice boards are commer-
`cially available for personal computer systems, and are well
`known to those skilled in the art.
`
`The remote system 14 includes, for example, a remote
`system computer 66 which is coupled to the telephone line
`30 by a modem 68. In addition, a telephone 70 can be
`coupledto the line 30 by a voice board 72. Alternatively, the
`telephone 70 can be coupled to a separate telephoneline so
`that simultaneous telephone and data links can be made. Still
`further alternatively, it is known to those skilled in the art
`that a single telephone line can be made to support both
`voice and data transmission. In any event, the telephone 70
`can communicate directly with the loudspeaker 58 of the
`stationary bicycle 18 over the standard analog telephoneline
`30. Alternatively, the telephone 70 can communicate with
`the computer 66 as indicated by the broken line 74 and the
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`65
`
`6
`computer 66 can communicate digital voice data via modem
`68, telephone line 30 and modem 62, to the computer 24.
`The computer 24 can then store or pass through the digital
`voice data and play the voice input to the user of local station
`12 via speaker 58.
`As noted above, the computer 66 is used to communicate
`with the local system 12 via computer communication link
`such as the telephone line 30 or an equivalent. This com-
`munication can include the downloading of data and instruc-
`tions to the computer 24, and can include the uploading of
`information from the computer 24 to the computer 66. This
`allows for interactive communication between the remote
`system 14 and the local systems 12.
`The server stations 16 are used to further consolidate
`
`information from multiple remote system 14 and to provide
`a variety of services to the remote systems 14. While the
`remote system 14 maybe housed in humanpersonaltrainer
`homesor worksites, the server system(s) 16 are preferably
`more regional or national in origin. In this way, the main
`office of the enterprise can access each of the server systems
`16 to provide upgrades for software, exercise programs,
`exercise equipmentscripts, etc., as well as receiving infor-
`mation from the remote computers 66 that can be used for
`further analysis and for providing further services. Part of
`this analysis can be on the general and specific level of
`fitness of various individual users of the local system 12, as
`well as marketing information that can be used to offer
`product and services particularly tailored for the various
`users of the local system 12. The performanceof the human
`personal trainers at remote stations 14 can also be moni-
`tored. It should be noted that the server 16 can includedirect
`connect server 76 and peer server 78 that can either be direct
`serveritself (like server 76) to a numberof remote stations
`14, or which can be a specialized server (such as a dietary
`analysis server) coupled to one or more direct connect
`servers 76. In addition, higher-level servers can be used to
`further consolidate data from the direct connect servers 76
`
`and/or the peer servers 78. For example, the direct connect
`servers 76 can be regional
`in scope, while higher level
`servers can be national or international in scope.
`In FIG. 2, a computer 80 is shown in a block diagram
`form. This basic computer architecture can be used for the
`local system computer 24, the remote system computer 66,
`and the server system computer 76. Of course other and
`equivalent architectures (in the computational sense), such
`as parallel processing computers can be used in the present
`invention as well. In the disclosed embodiment, the com-
`puter 80 includes a microprocessor 82, random access
`memory (RAM) 84, read only memory (ROM)86, real time
`clock (RTC) 87, digital mass storage 88, CD-ROM drive 89,
`and a numberof input/output (I/O) ports 90. Preferably, the
`digital mass storage 88 is read/write memory such as a hard
`disk with adequate storage capacity (e.g. 40 megabytes to 2
`gigabytes or more). In addition, CD-ROM drive 89 can be
`coupled to the bus to provide, in particular, images to be
`displayed on a display 56 of the local system 12. The various
`components 82-90 address, pass data, and pass control
`signals through a bus 92 which typically includes data (D),
`address (A), and control (C) lines, as it is well known to
`those skilled in the art. In addition, there are control and
`“glue” chips typically provided in the form of a “chipset”
`which are used to couple the various components of the
`system together. The design and manufacture of computer
`systems such as computer system 80 is well knownto those
`skilled in the art, and such computer systems are commer-
`cially available, both as complete systems and as subsystems
`(e.g. motherboards) from a variety of commercial sources.In
`
`13
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`13
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`6,059,692
`
`7
`FIG. 3, a process 94 implemented on a local system com-
`puter 24is illustrated in a flow diagram. The process begins
`at 96 and, in a decision step 98, it is determined whether
`there is any activity which requires the attention local
`system computer. If not, the computer system 24 is in a
`“standby” mode and processcontrol is returned to step 98 in
`a recurring manner. If step 98 does determine that there is
`someactivity, one or more of multiple branches are made to
`process the activity. If the activity is “EXERCISE”, e.g. the
`stationary bicycle 18, the weight trainer 20, or the scale 22
`is to be used, a step 100 processes the exercise activity. If it
`is a “LOCAL SYSTEM”activity such as routine
`housekeeping,the local system activity is processed in a step
`102. If it is a“REMOTE SYSTEM”activity, the remote
`system activity is processed in a step 104. After the comple-
`tion of any one of steps 100, 102, and 104, process control
`is returned to step 98. Of course, other types ofactivities can
`be initiated by step 98 such as, for example, a shut down
`activity which would cause a power-downof system,as will
`be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
`In FIG. 4, step 100 of FIG. 3 is illustrated in greater detail.
`The process 100 begins at step 106 and, in a step 108, a
`“welcome greeting” is created. This welcome greeting can
`be displayed on the screen 56 and/or can be heard from the
`speaker 58, and can be personalized to both the individual
`user of the local system 12 and the human personaltrainer
`of remote station 14. For example, the imageof the personal
`trainer can show up on the screen 56 with his voice saying
`“Good moring, Fred! I haven’t seen you since last Wednes-
`day. Let’s try to get in a good work-out today!” This greeting
`formsa part of a “virtual personal trainer’ at local system 12
`which replaces someorall of the need for a humanpersonal
`trainer to be present at the exercise session at the local
`system 12. The “virtual personal trainer” is, therefore, a
`computerized process which emulates part or all of the
`functions traditionally performed by a human personal
`trainer.
`
`Next, in a selection step 110, the user decides whether he
`wants to select his own training program for that session or
`if he would like the system 12 to select the program. If the
`user selects the program, he creates a user “script” of what
`kind of exercise program he would like to perform that day.
`For example, if the user wishes to simply bicycle at a fixed
`resistance for thirty minutes, that can be entered in step 112.
`Alternatively, more complex “scripts” can indicate that he
`would like to bicycle with interval
`training for
`thirty
`minutes, and then do five repetitions on the weight trainer
`20.
`
`If, however, the user allows the system 12 to select the
`section type, step 114 controls the script selection. Thisis the
`preferred mode for using the local station 12 in that the script
`can be influenced not only by the local station 12, but also
`by the human personal trainer at the remote system com-
`puter 66. For example, data concerning the user’s previous
`performances and the personal trainer’s guidance can be
`stored in mass storage 88 (e.g. on a hard disk) so that a
`custom-tailored, interactive exercise program can be pro-
`vided.
`
`As noted above, the exercise program preferably proceeds
`according to “scripts.” A script is simply a sequence of
`exercise or other health-related events that are performed in
`fixed or variable sequences. The order andstructuring of the
`script can be modified based upon monitoring the user’s
`performanceor by other user feedback. For example,if it is
`detected that the useris getting tired due to a slowing of the
`exercise repetition rate,
`the steps or parameters of the
`exercise script can be modified accordingly. In other words,
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`8
`certain script steps can be skipped or the parameters con-
`cerning the steps can be modified. For example, if a user is
`determined to be tiring by the local system 12, and if the
`script says the next exercise eventis to be ten repetitions on
`the weight
`trainer 20,
`that step could be skipped.
`Alternatively, the weight training step could still be done,
`but
`the resistance parameters could be modified. For
`example,
`instead of doing ten repetitions at a hundred
`poundsresistance on the weighttrainer 20, eight repetitions
`at eighty poundsof resistance mightbe called for. The script
`therefore provides a general frameworkof a desired exercise
`session which can be varied based upon human personal
`trainer input from remote system 14, user input at local
`station 12, and detected user performanceat local station 12.
`Oncethe script has been initiated in either steps 112 or
`114, a step 116 detects and records user activity and provides
`feedback to the user. This step will be discussed in greater
`detail subsequently. Such parameters as the rotations per
`minute (RPM) of the crank 36, the timing and speed of the
`resistance weight repetitions of weight
`trainer 20,
`the
`detected weight on the scale 22, etc. can all be recorded in
`the mass storage 88 of the local system computer 24. In
`addition, user feedback is provided. For example, if the
`person is cycling too slow onthe stationary bicycle 18, the
`computer 24 can generate a encouragement on speaker 58
`that the person should pedal faster. Alternatively, if it is
`determined that the user is over-exerting, such as pedaling
`too fast, a cautionary warning can be issued on speaker 58
`to slow down. Another important input is the heart rate
`monitor (HRM) 59 which detects if the heart (pulse) rate is
`rising too high.
`Next, in a step 118, it is determined whether the session
`is a modifiable session. Most sessions are preferably be
`modifiable, unless the user selects, in a step 112, a non-
`modifiable session. If the session is modifiable, the session
`is modified in a step 120 based upon the selected script and
`upon user activity or other input. For example, if the heart
`rate monitor 59 detects that the pulse rate is too high, the
`resistance on the crank 36 can be reducedvia a signal to the
`brake 52. Next, in a step 122, it is determined whether the
`session is completed. This is usually based on the script,
`although the user can always terminate a session. If the
`session is not completed, process control is