System and Method For Controlling An Exercise Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016256745-A1
Application number	US-201615157061-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2012
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In general, the present invention relates to exercise devices and systems that can receive and run workout programs that include control command subsets that control the moveable members of a plurality of different exercise devices. Exercise devices of the present invention are able to ignore the control command subset(s) that do not control their moveable member(s) and recognize the control command subset(s) that control their moveable member(s). Exercise devices of the present invention are further able to, if necessary, perform a sizing restriction to the relevant control command subset(s). Motivational content may also be modified in connection with or independently from a sizing restriction made to the control commands. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling one or more exercise device with a workout file that includes control command subsets that control the moveable members of a plurality of different exercise devices.

First claim

1 . An exercise device comprising:
a first moveable member having one or more operating parameters selectively adjustable within a range; one or more actuators that selectively adjust the one or more operating parameters within a range; a receiving port that receives a workout file, the workout file having a first actuator control command subset that provides instructions to selectively adjust the one or more operating parameters of the first moveable member within the range and a second actuator control command subset to control a second moveable member of a different type of exercise device, where the second actuator control command subset is incompatible with the one or more operating parameters of the first moveable member; and a processing unit that is in communication with the one or more actuators and the receiving port, the processing unit including instructions, that when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to scan the workout file received by the receiving port, to identify instructions from the workout file that are compatible with the one or more actuators, and to select the first actuator control command subset from the workout file, based at least in part on the identification of instructions from the workout file that are compatible with the one or more actuators.

2 . The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to analyze the first actuator control command subset and automatically apply a sizing restriction to the first actuator control command subset to create a restricted actuator control command subset when one or more of the control commands in the first actuator control command subset are outside a range of the one or more operating parameters of the first movable member.

3 . The exercise device of claim 2 , wherein the sizing restriction applied by the processing unit comprises a scaling sizing restriction.

4 . The exercise device of claim 2 , wherein the sizing restriction applied by the processing unit comprises a capping sizing restriction.

5 . The exercise device of claim 2 , wherein the workout file further comprises motivational content.

6 . The exercise device of claim 5 , wherein the motivational content is synchronized with or reflective of the control commands within a workout file.

7 . The exercise device of claim 6 , wherein the reference data enables the processing unit to modify the motivational content.

8 . The exercise device of claim 7 , wherein the motivational content includes a video of terrain to be traversed during performance of an exercise and wherein the processing unit modifies the horizon line on the video so that the horizon line on the video remains synchronized with the restricted control command subset.

9 . The exercise device of claim 7 , wherein the motivational content includes a video of terrain to be traversed during performance of an exercise and wherein the processing unit modifies the playback speed of the video so that the playback speed of the video remains synchronized with the restricted control command subset.

10 . The exercise device of claim 7 , wherein the motivational content includes a graphical representation of a workout file profile and wherein the processing unit modifies the graphical representation of the workout file profile so that the workout file profile remains reflective of the restricted control command subset.

11 . The exercise device of claim 7 , wherein the motivational content includes projected biological metrics and wherein the processing unit modifies the projected biological metrics so that the projected biological metrics remain reflective of the restricted control command subset.

12 . The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the workout file is a universal workout file and includes control command subsets for at least two different types of exercise devices.

13 . The exercise device of claim 12 , wherein the two different types of exercise devices are selected from the group consisting of treadmills, elliptical machines, and exercise bikes.

14 . The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of control commands may be modified by the processing unit based on user input.

15 . The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the receiving port is a memory device drive.

16 . An exercise system comprising:
a remote computer that makes available at least one workout file that includes a first subset of actuator control commands and a second subset of actuator control commands; a first exercise device having a first processing unit and one or more operating parameters that are selectively adjustable within a range, wherein the one or more selectively adjustable operating parameters are adjustable within the range based on the first subset of actuator control commands from the at least one workout file, and wherein the first processing unit includes instructions, that when executed by the first processing unit, cause the first processing unit to scan the at least one workout file, to identify instructions from the at least one workout file that are compatible with the one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device, and to select the first subset of actuator control commands from the workout file, based at least in part on the identification of instructions from the at least one workout file that are compatible with the one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device; and a second exercise device having a second processing unit and one or more operating parameters that are selectively adjustable within a range, wherein the one or more selectively adjustable operating parameters of the second exercise device are adjustable within the range based on the second subset of actuator control commands from the at least one workout file, and wherein the second processing unit includes instructions, that when executed by the second processing unit, cause the second processing unit to scan the at least one workout file, to identify instructions from the at least one workout file that are compatible with the one or more operating parameters of the second exercise device, and to select the second subset of actuator control commands from the workout file, based at least in part on the identification of instructions from the at least one workout file that are compatible with the one or more selectively adjustable operating parameters of the second exercise device; wherein the first subset of the actuator control commands is incompatible with the second exercise device and the second subset of the actuator control commands is incompatible with the first exercise device.

17 . The exercise device of claim 16 ,
wherein the first processing unit automatically applies a sizing restriction to the first subset of the actuator control commands to create a restricted subset of the actuator control commands, when at least one of the control commands in the first subset of the actuator control commands are outside the range of the one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device; and wherein the second processing unit automatically applies a sizing restriction to the second subset of the actuator control commands to create a second restricted subset of the actuator control commands, when at least one of the control commands in the second subset of the actuator control commands are outside the range of the one or more operating parameters of the second exercise device.

18 . A method for controlling one or more exercise devices, the method comprising:
providing a workout file having

Assignees

• Icon Health & Fitness Inc

Inventors

• Brammer Chase

Classifications

• A63B22/02

  with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)} · CPC title

• A63B24/0087 Primary

  Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load · CPC title

• A63B22/0605

  performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers · CPC title

• A63B22/04

  with movable {multiple} steps {, i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders (steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048)} · CPC title

• A63B22/0023

  the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band · CPC title