Abstract: An example portable module is for use with an exercise system which includes a moveable element, a first processor and a port adapted to receive the portable module. The portable module includes a second processor and a memory storing information usable to control one or more parameters associated with the movable element.

Abstract: A mental activity for an exerciser exercising on an exercise apparatus connected to a communication link is provided by contacting a computer connected to the communication link and providing a display of mental activity data such as sports scores, stock prices or a weather report received from the contacted computer on a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises.

Abstract: Example systems and methods involve receiving data communicated from multiple exercise machines and storing machine-related data for the multiple exercise machines, the machine-related data comprising at least maintenance data, use data and warranty data for a respective one or more of the exercise machines. The machine-related data is updated based on the data received from the multiple exercise machines and one or more operations are automatically performed with reference to the stored machine-related data to produce operation-generated information about one or more of the multiple exercise machines.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Abstract: A bowling system and method for bowlers bowling at different locations in which scores are automatically generated for the bowlers bowling at each of the locations; the scores are communicated among the locations; and the scores are displayed at each location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating exerciser-related messages and/or workouts are disclosed in which, for example, records of exercise activities for the exercisers are stored. Messages relating to one or more of the exercisers are generated based on their records of exercise activities and the messages are communicated over a communication network.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a pinsetter for setting pins on a bowling lane. A control circuit controls the pinsetter to re-set a configuration of pins on the bowling lane based on performance data of a bowler if the bowler fails to knock down all the pins of the configuration.

Abstract: A system adapted for use in permitting a bowling game between bowlers at remotely located bowling centers includes pin fall sensors at each bowling center for sensing pin falls caused by balls bowled to knock down pins. Communication circuitry at each bowling center is configured to send locally generated scoring data based on the pin falls to a remotely located bowling center and to receive remotely generated scoring data from the remotely located bowling center. Display devices at each bowling center display the locally generated scoring data and the remotely generated scoring data.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes first and second pinsetters each associated with a respective corresponding one of first and second bowling lanes. A communication device communicates data to bowlers and a lane pair control system is configured to control the pinsetters, to receive pin data from said pinsetters during current bowling, to generate current scoring data based on the received pin data, and to supply signals corresponding to the generated current scoring data to the communication device, whereby the current scoring data is communicated to the bowlers. The lane pair control system is further configured to access stored game data corresponding to previous bowling and to supply signals corresponding to the accessed stored game data to the communication device, whereby the accessed stored game data is communicated to the bowlers.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Abstract: A system adapted for use in permitting a bowling game between bowlers at remotely located bowling centers includes pin fall sensors at each bowling center for sensing pin falls caused by balls bowled to knock down pins. Communication circuitry at each bowling center is configured to send locally generated scoring data based on the pin falls to a remotely located bowling center and to receive remotely generated scoring data from the remotely located bowling center. Display devices at each bowling center display the locally generated scoring data and the remotely generated scoring data.

Abstract: A disk drive employs a method of monitoring a transducer flying height to retire a defective data site on a disk. The transducer is designed to comply with a fly-height specification while flying above the disk. In one aspect, the method includes generating a warning signal representing a condition in which the transducer is flying outside the fly-height specification as a result of flying above a defect site within a physical sector having a physical sector address. The method includes associating the warning signal with a defect site address that points to the defect site and storing the defect site address in a defect discovery table. The method further includes using the defect discovery table to locate the physical sector address. The method includes storing the physical sector address in a defect management table to retire the physical sector.

Abstract: A disk drive having a rotary actuator, an embedded servo system for controlling the rotary actuator, a rotating disk surface for recording and reproducing data, and a dual element head supported by the actuator comprising a read element and a write element. The disk surface has a plurality of repeating servo track patterns defining radially spaced-apart servo tracks. The disk surface further includes a user data band having a plurality of radially spaced-apart data tracks for storing user data. Each data track is written with an offset from a corresponding servo track centerline depending on a skew introduced by the dual element head. A reserved band is located outside the user data portion including a reserved data track for storing drive specific data wherein the reserved data track is centrally aligned with a corresponding servo track centerline. The reserved data track can be read reliably by the read element when the servo system is tracking on the servo track centerline.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes first and second pinsetters each associated with a respective corresponding one of first and second bowling lanes. A communication device communicates data to bowlers and a lane pair control system is configured to control the pinsetters, to receive pin data from said pinsetters during current bowling, to generate current scoring data based on the received pin data, and to supply signals corresponding to the generated current scoring data to the communication device, whereby the current scoring data is communicated to the bowlers. The lane pair control system is further configured to access stored game data corresponding to previous bowling and to supply signals corresponding to the accessed stored game data to the communication device, whereby the accessed stored game data is communicated to the bowlers.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes an exercise device, a memory including a first memory portion, and a receiver for receiving exercise programs transmitted over a first communication link. A control unit supplies received exercise programs to the first memory portion for storage in the first memory portion as first exercise programs and selectively controls the exercise device in accordance with the first exercise programs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for storing predefined information with error correcting code (ECC) in a direct access storage device are provided. Predetermined information is identified and loaded to an ECC generator for customer data to be read and written. The identified predetermined information includes an address for customer data to be read and written. The customer data is written and loaded in parallel to the ECC generator. Then the generated ECC that reflects the pre-loaded predetermined information is written at the end of the written customer data. The customer data and ECC is read and loaded in parallel to the ECC generator. Errors in the predetermined information that is not written to the disk surface, can be detected from the read ECC.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.