INTERACTIVE EXERCISE DEVICE AND SYSTEM
An interactive exercise device for measuring and displaying exercise performance parameters, the interactive exercise device including a step measuring device that outputs a step signal corresponding to each step walked by 5 a user, a processor for determining a plurality of exercise performance parameters based on the step signals output from the step measuring device, a memory for storing the determined exercise performance parameters, a menu-driven interface display for displaying a plurality of menus, the menus for displaying at least the determined exercise performance parameters, a user input device for operation by 10 the user to select a display of one of the menus on the interface display and to provide input data corresponding to a selected display, and an interface connection for connecting the interactive exercise device to an external computing device, the interface connection supporting an upload of the determined exercise performance parameters from the interactive exercise device to the external 15 computing device, and supporting a download of user-specified data from the external computing device to the interactive exercise device, the user-specified data including at least one user-specified message that is displayed on the interface display when a user-selected one of the determined exercise performance parameters reaches a user-specified threshold.
This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/087,670, entitled “Interactive Exercise Device and System,” filed on Mar. 24, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interactive exercise device and system for measuring the performance of exercise activity of a user and for providing user-specified feedback messages to the user during the exercise activity upon achievement of corresponding user-specified goals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional exercise measurement and monitoring devices, such as pedometers, typically measure a basic exercise performance indicator and then display that indicator to the user along with some other calculated performance parameters. For example, in the case of a typical pedometer, the exercise device is worn by the user and measures the number of steps performed by the user by using a motion measuring mechanism such as an accelerometer or other known type of motion measuring device. Such a pedometer also typically includes a small display of some sort, such as an LED or LCD display, for displaying the measured number of performed steps. In some cases, a typical pedometer may also display a limited number of other performance parameters, such as distance walked, time walked, calories expended, and other related parameters, which are calculated by a small processor in the pedometer.
A pedometer as described above provides a limited ability for the user to interact with the pedometer to display a desired performance parameter. For example, a typical pedometer may provide a button, which allows the user to change the displayed performance parameter to the next performance parameter in accordance with a predetermined parameter display sequence set in the pedometer. The use of these pedometers is often frustrating to the user because the user cannot go directly to a desired parameter but must instead proceed through the predetermined display sequence to get to a display of the desired parameter. Also, some known types of pedometers provide a limited ability for the user to input physical attributes associated with the user. For example, such a known type of pedometer may allow the user to input the user's weight, stride length and other such personal data by using a button in association with a displayed parameter field. However, in the few devices that have such features, the user may become frustrated because the user must know how to access the particular displayed parameter field in order to enter the desired physical attribute, such as weight.
Known types of pedometers may also provide an indication, such as a sound or a displayed signal that is triggered when the user achieves a predetermined value for a corresponding performance parameter, such as a beep when the user achieves 5,000 steps walked or 250 calories expended. However, these triggered indications are typically predetermined by the manufacturer of the pedometer and are not adjustable by the user. Accordingly, such achievement-triggered indications are often meaningless to the user because they do not correspond to the user's exercise routine or physical condition. For example, the user may want to take several short walks during the day and therefore desires a triggered achievement indication when 2000 steps are achieved for each short walk.
Although some known pedometers provide a limited ability for a user to set a triggered notification corresponding to achievement of a certain value of a performance parameter, such notifications are limited and are difficult to setup through the fixed display sequence and button sequences described above. Even these types of triggered notifications are limited to a selection by the user from a limited number of notifications provided by the pedometer, such as a predetermined set of audible beeps or a predetermined set of display messages.
Personally tailored feedback during an exercise routine is important to a user because it can provide the user with an indication of the user's progress in relation to that user's personal exercise routine, and because it can provide motivation that is meaningful to the user to continue progressing through the routine to reach the user's personal exercise goals. The aforementioned known types of notification messages are very limited in their effectiveness because they do not provide personalized indications of the user's progress in relation to the user's personal exercise routine, and because they do not provide personalized motivational messages that are meaningful to the user.
Another shortcoming with known types of exercise measuring and monitor devices is that they provide limited functionality that is specific to a particular task but do not provide other functions that are often useful to a user during exercise and during various types of exercise. For example, a user may want to monitor the user's heart rate while walking, or may want to use a clock or an alarm while walking, in addition to monitoring the performance parameters typically associated with a pedometer. In addition, the user may want to perform other types of exercise such as bicycling or using a stationary exercise machine, and be able to monitor performance parameters associated with those types of exercise using the same device.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop an exercise measuring and monitoring device that allows the user to easily set user-specified exercise goals that are tracked by the device during exercise activity, and that allows the user to easily setup user-specified personalized notification messages that are displayed by the device upon achievement of the corresponding user-specified goals. In addition, it is desirable to develop an exercise measuring and monitoring device that has an easily readable display screen and that allows the user to directly navigate to a desired display without having to proceed through a predetermined set of all possible displays. The desired device also preferably supports multiple functionality to provide the user with desired functionality during more than one type of exercise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the foregoing need by providing a multifunction exercise measuring and monitoring device that has an easily-navigated menu-driven display for monitoring performance parameters and for inputting data, that allows the user to easily download user-specified exercise goals that are tracked by the device during exercise activity and user-specified personalized notification messages which are displayed by the device upon achievement of the corresponding user-specified goals. In addition, the device of the present invention supports multiple functions to provide the user with desired functionality during more than one type of exercise.
In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an interactive exercise device for measuring and displaying exercise performance parameters, the interactive exercise device including a step measuring device that outputs a step signal corresponding to each step walked by a user, a processor for determining a plurality of exercise performance parameters based on the step signals output from the step measuring device, a memory for storing the determined exercise performance parameters, a menu-driven interface display for displaying a plurality of menus, the menus for displaying at least the determined exercise performance parameters, a user input device for operation by the user to select a display of one of the menus on the interface display and to provide input data corresponding to a selected display, and an interface connection for connecting the interactive exercise device to an external computing device. The interface connection supports an upload of the determined exercise performance parameters from the interactive exercise device to the external computing device, and supports a download of user-specified data from the external computing device to the interactive exercise device, the user-specified data including at least one user-specified message that is displayed on the interface display when a user-selected one of the determined exercise performance parameters reaches a user-specified threshold.
In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an interactive exercise system for measuring and displaying exercise performance parameters, in which the interactive exercise system includes an external computing device having a local processor, a local memory, a local display monitor, an interface connection port and a local network connection port, and a server having a server processor, a server memory and a server network connection port, the server being connected to the external computing device by a network connection connected to the server network connection port and to the local network connection port of the external computing device. The server sends display pages to the external computing device for display on the local display monitor and the server also receives data from the external computing device. The system also includes an interactive exercise device which has a step measuring device that outputs a step signal corresponding to each step walked by a user, a processor for determining a plurality of exercise performance parameters based on the step signals output from the step measuring device, a memory for storing the determined exercise performance parameters, a menu-driven interface display for displaying a plurality of menus, the menus for displaying at least the determined exercise performance parameters, a user input device for operation by the user to select a display of one of the menus on the interface display and to provide input data corresponding to a selected display, and an interface connection that connects the interactive exercise device to the interface connection port of the external computing device through a data connection. User-specified data is downloaded from the external computing device to the interactive exercise device through the data connection, the user-specified data including at least one user-specified message that is displayed on the interface display of the interactive exercise device when a user-selected one of the determined exercise performance parameters reaches a user-specified threshold. Furthermore, exercise performance parameters are uploaded from the interactive exercise device to the external computing device through the data connection, and are then uploaded from the external computing device to the server through the network connection between the server and the external computing device.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to an interactive exercise system for measuring and displaying exercise performance parameters, the interactive exercise system including a server having a server processor, a server memory, and a server network connection port. The system also includes an interactive exercise device that has a step measuring device that outputs a step signal corresponding to each step walked by a user, a processor for determining a plurality of exercise performance parameters based on the step signals output from the step measuring device, a memory for storing the determined exercise performance parameters, a menu-driven interface display for displaying a plurality of menus, the menus for displaying at least the determined exercise performance parameters, a user input device for operation by the user to select a display of one of the menus on the interface display and to provide input data corresponding to a selected display, and a wireless interface connection that connects the interactive exercise device directly to the server, wherein the server sends user-specified data to the interactive exercise device and the server receives determined exercise performance parameters from the interactive exercise device. The user-specified data includes at least one user-specified message that is displayed on the interface display of the interactive exercise device when a user-selected one of the determined exercise performance parameters reaches a user-specified threshold.
In other specific embodiments, the interactive exercise device is implemented in a clamshell-shape that has a detachable and replaceable faceplate on the outside with a latch to secure the hinged lid to the main body. The interactive exercise device also has a USB connection port that supports a connection to an external computer so that the interactive exercise device is recognized as a mass storage device by the external computer. The interface display is a backlit liquid crystal display of the type currently used in mobile telephones, and the device also has a radio frequency receiver for receiving heart rate data from an external heart monitor that can then be displayed by the device. The device also has a connection for receiving bicycle exercise measurement data that is converted to performance data that can be displayed by the device. The plurality of menus include top-level menus representing functions for reviewing previous day's performance parameters, for setting up timed events, for selecting device options, and for inputting user settings, such as personal physical data. Each top level has corresponding sub-menus for easy navigation and input of data by the user through the use of corresponding buttons. In addition, the interactive exercise device can function as a clock and an alarm, and automatically resets performance data at the end of each day after saving that day's data into memory. The user preferably uses a webpage displayed on the external computer that is provided from the server for inputting text-based user-specified messages and their corresponding performance parameter thresholds that are downloaded to the interactive exercise device so that each user-specified message is displayed when the user achieves the corresponding performance parameter threshold during an exercise session. In other embodiments, the interactive exercise device is connected directly to the server via a wireless connection port in the interactive exercise device. In such direct wireless embodiments, the server sends user-specified data directly to the interactive exercise device and the server receives determined exercise performance parameters directly from the interactive exercise device, via the wireless connection between the interactive exercise device and the server.
In this manner, the present invention provides a compact interactive exercise device that provides multifunction exercise measuring and monitoring, that has an easily-navigated menu-driven display for monitoring performance parameters and for inputting data, that allows the user to easily download user-specified exercise goals that are tracked by the device during exercise activity and user-specified personalized notification messages which displayed upon achievement of the corresponding user-specified goals.
Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and drawings.
As mentioned above, the present invention is generally directed to a multifunction exercise measuring and monitoring device that has an easily-navigated menu-driven display for monitoring performance parameters and for inputting data, that allows the user to easily download user-specified exercise goals and user-specified personalized notification messages which are displayed by the device upon achievement of the corresponding user-specified goals.
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The menus displayed by display 20, in correspondence with the use of input buttons 21 to 23, easily allow the user of interactive exercise device 1 to navigate directly to a desired menu without having to cycle through the entire set of menus, which is a disadvantage of conventional exercise monitoring devices.
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Step measuring device 203 is used to support the pedometer functions of interactive exercise device 1, such as a step event. In this regard, step-measuring device 203 is preferably a highly accurate measurer of steps walked by the user while interactive exercise device 1 is attached to or carried by the user. Step measuring device 203 as shown in
Heart monitor radio frequency (RF) receiver 211 is a typical type of RF receiver and is used to receive an RF data signal from an external heart monitor worn by or connected to the user, where the external heart monitor has an RF transmitter. In this manner, interactive exercise device 1 can be used to monitor and record the user's heart rate during an exercise event, such as a step event or a bike event. Similarly, bike data port 212 is used to receive a bike performance data signal, such as revolutions per minute, from an external bicycle monitor that is disposed on or connected to a bicycle on which the user is performing a bike event. Bike data port may support a serial connection, or other type of data connection supported by external bicycle performance monitor devices.
Display 20 and input buttons 21 to 23 were discussed above and are used to display easily navigable menus to allow the user to view exercise performance parameters and to input settings and options into interactive exercise device 1. Similarly, voice command receiver 215 is used to receive voice commands from the user and to pass the commands in digital form to processor 201 during operation of interactive exercise device 1, in order to navigate display menus and input data. USB port 213 is used to connect interactive exercise device 1 to USB port 114 of computer 110 through USB connection 118. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the system of the present invention shown in
“Personal motivational messages” section 303 allows the user to enter a unique personal motivational message corresponding to each one of an increasing sequence of step counts. In this manner, the user can receive a self-specified motivational message at each increasing level of total step count in order to provide continued motivation for continued exercise. Other options can also be set in section 303 to enable the user to turn the aforementioned notifications on or off, to adjust the volume of the chimes for the alarm function in the interactive exercise device 1, and to set the current time in the interactive exercise device 1.
“Settings” section 304 enables the user to switch the units of measurement of the data displayed in the interactive exercise device 1 between U.S. standards and metric standards. Personal information can also be entered in “settings” section 304 to allow the user to enter the user's weight, stride length, a bike wheel circumference, and clock settings such as time zone and daylight savings options. When the user has input the desired data in web page 300, the user selects “update” button 305, which then initiates the download of the input data in web page 300 from computer 110 to interactive exercise device 1 via USB port 213. In this regard, web page 300 contains necessary instructions to cause computer 110 to download input data to, and upload exercise performance parameters from, interactive exercise device 1. Accordingly, the trusted web site hosted by server 120 allows a user of interactive exercise device 1 to update the interactive exercise device 1 with user-specified settings, options and data from any computer with an internet connection.
Next, in step S1506, the user accesses a different web page from server 120 on computer 110, which uploads to server 120 the time-stamped exercise performance parameters that were determined by interactive exercise device I during the user's exercise session, The server then stores the uploaded exercise performance parameters in a confidential database in correspondence with the user's identity and in correspondence with the time-stamp of the uploaded data (step S1507). The data remains in the database and is later accessed by the user when the user identity, preferably through an account number, to the web site hosted by server 120. In this manner, the user can later access web pages from server 120 to view the uploaded exercise performance parameters in various forms, such as tabular, summaries, charts and graphs (step S1508). The present invention therefore provides an interactive exercise device 1 that dynamically interfaces indirectly with a web site to allow the user to update interactive exercise device 1 from any internet-ready computer, and then to later view that user's data from any internet-ready computer, which may not be the same as that used for updating interactive exercise device 1.
Lastly, interactive exercise device 1 automatically stores the current day's exercise performance parameters as the previous day's parameters, and then resets the current day's performance parameter values to predetermined values (step S1509). For example, the current day's step count, mileage, and the like are reset to zero. The flowchart then ends at step S1510.
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By the foregoing description and related drawings, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a multifunction exercise measuring and monitoring device that has an easily-navigated menu-driven display for monitoring performance parameters and for inputting data, that allows the user to easily download user-specified exercise goals and user-specified personalized notification messages which are displayed by the device upon achievement of the corresponding user-specified goals.
Although the invention has been described with respect to particular illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and that those of ordinary skill in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.
Claims
1-52. (canceled)
53. An interactive exercise system for measuring and displaying exercise performance parameters, the interactive exercise system comprising:
- a customizable exercise interface for enabling a user to input user-specified data and to input at least one personal customized message that relates to an exercise parameter, wherein the user-specified data includes customized exercise goals and exercise settings;
- an interactive exercise device including: an exercise measuring device that measures exercise performed by a user and determines at least one exercise parameter based on the measured exercise; a processor; a memory for storing the determined exercise parameters, user-specified data, and the at least one personal customized message input by the user into the customizable exercise interface; and executable code stored in the memory having instructions executable by the processor for comparing the user-specified data with the determined exercise parameters and for causing the at least one personal customized message to be delivered to the user based on a result of the comparison; and
- an interface connection for connecting the interactive exercise device to the customizable exercise interface, the interface connection supporting a transmission of the determined exercise parameters from the interactive exercise device to the customizable exercise interface and further supporting a transmission of the user-specified data and the at least one personal customized message from the customizable exercise interface to the interactive exercise device.
54. The interactive exercise system of claim 53, wherein the customizable exercise interface allows a user to input at least one motivational message for the at least one personal customized message that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise parameter selected by the user is reached.
55. The interactive exercise system of claim 54, wherein the customizable exercise interface allows a user to input at least one goal message for the at least one personal customized message that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise goal selected by the user is reached.
56. The interactive exercise system of claim 55, further comprising a server connection for connecting the customizable exercise interface to a server, wherein the server comprises a server processor, a server memory, and a server network connection port, the server being connected to the customizable exercise interface by a network connection, the customizable exercise interface being configured for receiving data from the server for display on the display of the customizable exercise interface;
57. The interactive exercise system of claim 56, wherein the customizable exercise interface is further configured for transmitting the measured exercise performance parameters received from the interactive exercise device to the server through the network connection.
58. An interactive exercise device comprising:
- an exercise measuring device that measures exercise performed by a user and determines at least one exercise parameter based on the measured exercise;
- a processor;
- a memory for storing the determined exercise parameters, user-specified data, and at least one personal message customized by the user and related to the user-specified data; and
- executable code stored in the memory having instructions executable by the processor for comparing the user-specified data with the determined exercise parameters and for causing the at least one personal customized message to be delivered to the user based on a result of the comparison.
59. The interactive exercise device of claim 58, wherein the user-specified data comprises at least one user-specified threshold for corresponding user-selected exercise parameters, and further wherein the executable code stored in the memory includes instructions executable by the processor for delivering the at least one personal customized message to the user based on whether the determined exercise parameters have reached the user-specified thresholds for the user-selected exercise parameters.
60. The interactive exercise device of claim 58, further comprising a display for displaying the personal customized message delivered to the user and for further displaying visual data including at least the determined exercise parameters.
61. The interactive exercise device of claim 58, further comprising:
- an interface connection for connecting the interactive exercise device to an external computing device, the interface connection supporting a transmission of the determined exercise parameters from the interactive exercise device to the external computing device and further supporting a transmission of the user-specified data and the at least one personal customized message from the external computing device to the interactive exercise device.
62. The interactive exercise device of claim 61, wherein the external computing device comprises an user interface for operation by the user for inputting the user-specified data and at least one personal customized message, wherein the user-specified data includes customized exercise goals and settings.
63. The interactive exercise device of claim 62, wherein the at least one personal customized message includes at least one personal motivational message input by the user that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise parameter selected by the user is reached.
64. The interactive exercise device of claim 62, wherein the at least one personal customized message includes at least one goal message input by the user that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise goal selected by the user is reached.
65. The interactive exercise device of claim 58, wherein the exercise measuring device is configured to measure multiple types of exercise performed by the user and to determine corresponding exercise parameters based on each type of measured exercise.
66. A customizable exercise interface for enabling a user to personalize exercise-related information for use in an interactive exercise device, the customizable exercise interface comprising:
- a display;
- a processor;
- a memory for storing user-specified data, at least one personal message customized by a user, and executable code having instructions executable by the processor for operating a user interface;
- the user interface displayed on the display having a user-specified data section and a personal message section, wherein the user-specified data section allows a user to input customized exercise goals and to select exercise settings, further wherein the personal message section allows the user to input at least one personal customized message that relates to an exercise parameter.
67. The customizable exercise interface of claim 66, wherein the customization of exercise goals in the user-specified data section allows the user to select a desired number of exercise repetitions to be performed for each corresponding day of exercise.
68. The customizable exercise interface of claim 66, wherein the at least one personal customized message includes at least one personal motivational message input by the user that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise parameter selected by the user is reached.
69. The customizable exercise interface of claim 66, wherein the at least personal customized message includes at least one goal message input by the user that is to be displayed to the user when a corresponding exercise goal selected by the user is reached.
70. The customizable exercise interface of claim 66, further comprising an interface connection for forming a data connection between the customizable exercise interface and an interactive exercise device, wherein the interface connection supports the transmission of the user-specified data and the at least one personal customized message from the customizable exercise interface to the interactive exercise device and also supports the transmission of measured exercise parameters from the interactive exercise device to the customizable exercise interface.
71. The customizable exercise interface of claim 70, further comprising a server connection for connecting the customizable exercise interface to a server, wherein the server comprises a server processor, a server memory, and a server network connection port, the server being connected to the customizable exercise interface by a network connection, the customizable exercise interface being configured for receiving data from the server for display on the display of the customizable exercise interface.
72. The customizable exercise interface of claim 71, wherein the customizable exercise interface is further configured for transmitting the measured exercise performance parameters received from the interactive exercise device to the server through the network connection.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2009
Inventors: Susan B. Parks (Laguna Niguel, CA), Dennis Parks (Laguna Niguel, CA), Richard Sagey (Laguna Higuel, CA), Chuck Kalina (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 12/486,713
International Classification: A63B 71/00 (20060101);