PERSONALIZED HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING PLATFORM
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, a Personalized High Intensity Interval Training (PHIIT®) platform may be provided. The platform may be comprised of systems and methods disclosed herein. Embodiments of the PHIIT platform may be used by individuals to complete various predetermined workout plans. A predetermined workout plan may consist of, for example, a series of individual exercises performed in succession and in conjunction with workout equipment. The PHIIT platform may provide individuals with a number of workout plans that incorporate various workout equipment. A predetermined work out plan may be selected by an individual from a number of plans with a variety of durations and fitness goal focuses. For example, one plan may emphasize improving the cardiovascular fitness of the user, whereas another plan may emphasize improving the muscle strength of the user. Other plans may emphasize improving a user's power, speed, quickness, agility, balance, or flexibility.
Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/902,149, filed Nov. 8, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is intended that each of the referenced applications may be applicable to the concepts and embodiments disclosed herein, even if such concepts and embodiments are disclosed in the referenced applications with different limitations and configurations and described using different examples and terminology.
FIELD OF DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure generally relates to fitness methods and systems.
BACKGROUNDExercising at a gym has long been a popular way for many people to achieve individual strength and fitness goals. Gyms typically have a wide variety of equipment, allowing individuals to focus their workout on a desired muscle group or achieve a particular cardiovascular state. However, without guidance, some new or less knowledgeable individuals may not be incorporating a healthy variety of exercises into their workouts.
Similarly, even a sophisticated and knowledgeable individual may have difficulty varying their workout regimen, as it is not uncommon for an individual to repetitively perform the same workouts incorporating the same machines. Moreover, if a gym is particularly busy, an individual may spend a significant amount of time waiting or, consequently, be deterred from performing their intended workout routine. In turn, there may be many variables that impede or prevent the individual from attaining a desired result in their workout regime. There are, therefore, more effective methods and systems for facilitating the achievement of an individual's strength and fitness goals.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarks and copyrights owned by the Applicants. In addition, the drawings may contain other marks owned by third parties and are being used for illustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks and copyrights represented herein, except those belonging to their respective owners, are vested in and the property of the Applicants. The Applicants retain and reserve all rights in their trademarks and copyrights included herein, and grant permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
Furthermore, the drawings may contain text or captions that may explain certain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included for illustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodiments detailed in the present disclosure. In the drawings:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.
I. Platform Overview
This brief overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This brief overview is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this brief overview intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, a Personalized High Intensity Interval Training (PHIIT®) platform may be provided. The platform may be comprised of systems and methods disclosed herein. Embodiments of the PHIIT platform may be used by individuals to complete various predetermined workout plans. A predetermined workout plan may consist of, for example, a series of individual exercises performed in succession and in conjunction with workout equipment. The PHIIT platform may provide individuals with a number of workout plans that incorporate various workout equipment. A predetermined work out plan may be selected by an individual from a number of plans with a variety of durations and fitness goal focuses. For example, one plan may emphasize improving the cardiovascular fitness of the user, whereas another plan may emphasize improving the muscle strength of the user. Other plans may emphasize improving a user's power, speed, quickness, agility, balance, or flexibility.
PHIIT platforms may be comprised of a number of exercise stations. The system may enable an individual to begin working out at a first exercise station, which may be designated by the system based in relation to a particular predetermined workout plan. After a duration of time, the system may instruct the user to progress to a second exercise station. Similarly, after another duration of time, the system may instruct the user to progress to a third exercise station, and so on, until the user has utilized all exercise stations necessary to complete a particular predetermined work out plan.
A system timer may dictate a workout duration to instruct a user when to start and stop using a given exercise station. A system timer may also dictate a rest duration to instruct a user when to start and stop a rest period in-between exercise stations. In addition, the PHIIT platform may incorporate biometric tracking technology. The tracking technology may monitor a user's biometrics and associate the readings with particular stations in the PHIIT platform as the user progresses the stations.
Both the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.
II. Platform Configuration
The PHIIT platform may be comprised of a number of exercise stations. Each exercise station may be comprised of one or more pieces of equipment designed to enable a user to do a particular exercise. Each exercise station may be characterized as focusing on a particular fitness goal, for example, improving a user's strength or cardiovascular fitness. As such, some embodiments of the system may include, for example, a set of “cardio stations,” which may be exercise stations comprising equipment and/or instructions for doing exercises that are geared towards improving a user's cardiovascular fitness. Cardio stations may be comprised of, but be not limited to, any of the following equipment: reAct Trainers, lateral trainers, cross trainers, tread climbers, step mills, stair climbers, stationary bikes, spin bikes, recumbent bikes, jacobs ladders, rowing machines, elliptical machines, treadmills, jump ropes, or an area for performing equipment-less exercises such as jumping jacks, mountain climbers, etc.
Similarly, some embodiments of the system may include a set of “strength stations,” which may be exercise stations comprising equipment and/or instructions for doing exercises that are geared towards improving a user's muscle strength. Strength stations may be comprised of, but be not limited to, any of the following equipment: pull up & suspension rig, plyo boxes, dumb bells, sandbag landmines, kettle bells, medicine balls, weight racks and bumper plates, free weights, resistance machines, or weight machines. In some embodiments, the type of station (i.e., whether it is characterized as a cardio station, a strength station or some other type of station) may be denoted by a symbol on the exercise station. For example,
The PHIIT platform may be comprised of, for example, cardio equipment and strength equipment. In some embodiments, the cardio equipment may be laid out in one row and the strength equipment may be laid out in an adjacent row. The rows may be separated by a distance. The distance may be, for example, 10 feet, or a length sufficient to accommodate a size of a room hosting the PHIIT platform. The PHIIT platform may be comprised seven types of equipment laid out in the first row and seven strength equipment laid out in a second row. A cardio routine and a strength routine may be derived from the equipment layout. For example, the cardio workout may involve a particular pattern and combination of strength and cardio equipment. Similarly, the strength workout may involve a different pattern and combination of strength and cardio equipment.
As shown in
The PHIIT platform may further comprise a system timer, a sound-making element and a display unit. The system timer may be operative to keep track of workout durations and rest durations. For example, a “3:1 timer” may endlessly oscillate between counting down a three minute workout duration and counting down a one minute rest duration. The system timer may be set to count down from any desired workout duration and rest duration. For example, in some embodiments the system timer may comprise a “5:1 timer” which oscillates between counting down a five minute workout duration and counting down a one minute rest duration. A similar oscillation may occur with a timer having a specification of 4:1, 2:1, etc. A sound-making element may be paired with a system timer and may be operative to notify users when the system timer finished counting off a workout duration or a rest duration. For example, the sound-making element may be a buzzer, a bell, a chime, a speaker, a horn, or any other device capable of making a noise that would be known by one of skill in the arts. In some embodiments, a display unit may be operative to display any number of predetermined workout plans. The display unit may consist of a television, a computer screen, a chalkboard, a whiteboard, or any other device or piece of equipment used to display information.
Still consistent with embodiments of the PHIIT platform, each user of the PHIIT platform may be provided with biometric tracking technology. The biometric tracking technology may be enabled to monitor vital signs of the user, such as, for example, the user's heart rate. In this way, an operator (e.g., a trainer) of the PHIIT platform may monitor each user's vital signs. Moreover, in some embodiments, a centralized server may tie a user's biometrics (as tracked by the biometric tracking technology) to a station at which the user's biometrics were measured by the technology.
For example, a centralized server may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The memory storage may comprise a listing of all the predetermined workout plans of the PHIIT platform as well as registration of each user's tracking technology. The PHIIT platform may receive an indication from, for example, an operator of a particular workout plan, as well as a station at which the user began a predetermined workout plan. The centralized server may further be in communication with the timer of the PHIIT platform. Having the workout plan, the starting station, timer readings, and biometric readings, the centralized server may log a user's progression through the PHIIT platform and associate the biometric readings with the user's progression through the PHIIT platform.
The centralized server may be in operative communication with the sound-making element and the display unit. In this way, the centralized server may be configured to display information on, for example, the display unit. Moreover, the centralized server may provide a user interface to an operator of the PHIIT platform, controlling, for example, workout plan customizations and selections, timer durations, and information to display. In some embodiments, the centralized server may be configured to generate a report for each user. The report may comprise, for example, information corresponding to a user's performance for a particular workout plan, as well as, for example, a historical analysis for the user in relation to workout plans and specific exercise stations.
The centralized server may further be a part of a distributed network environment, such as, for example, a cloud-computing environment. In this way, the centralized server may be remotely updated or receive updates with, for example, new workout plans. These updates may be regular and a part of, for example, a franchised system attempting to synchronize a uniform workout system and methodology.
II. Platform Operation
As described above, the PHIIT platform may display any number of predetermined workout plans on a display unit, from which a user and/or operator may select their preferred workout plan. For example, the embodiment illustrated in
Each workout plan may have a designated first work out station, at which the user may begin their workout. For example, if in the embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, a 3:1 timer may be continuously oscillating between counting off a three minute workout duration and a one minute rest duration. A user may wait until the beginning of a new workout duration to begin working out at the first work out station specified by the work out plan the user has selected. The user will be enabled to perform the specified exercise for a duration of three minutes, at which point the system timer will finish counting the workout duration and a sound-making element may notify the user that it is time to progress to the next station. A user may then have one minute to rest and progress to the next work out station specified by the chosen workout plan. In some embodiments, a user may be guided from one station to another by following images, for example, the path of the PHIIT30 Cardio Evolution may be denoted by the existence of images of circles depicted on the work out stations specified by the plan, whereas the path of the PHIIT30 Strength Evolution may be denoted by the existence of images of squares depicted on the work out stations specified by the plan.
By way of example, if a user selected the PHIIT30 Strength Evolution work out plan illustrated in
In some embodiments, the predetermined work out plans may include a mix of both cardio stations and strength stations. Moreover, a PHIIT platform operator may adjust the predetermined work out plans as they see fit by, for example, replacing or removing equipment at a given station with different equipment and/or specifying a new exercise to be performed at a station. In this way, an operator or individual working in the PHIIT platform may design “Freestyle” or “Open” workouts. Still in other embodiments, equipment in strength stations may not be movable to other stations. The centralized server may comprise a user interface enabling the operator to update its memory storage with, for example, the customized layout. In this way, the operator may update and customize the workouts regularly, all the while keeping the centralized server up-to-date.
In some embodiments, the PHIIT platform may enable a user to use a heart-monitoring tool to enable user accountability and tracking of results. As described above, a PHIIT platform may be comprised of different numbers of stations, and differently calibrated system timers. For example, although the embodiment illustrated in
A symbol may be placed adjacent to each workout station denoting, for example, an order and a type of workout that may be performed at the station. The symbol may be, for example, a square symbol denoting a strength-biased workout station or a circle denoting a cardio-biased workout. Each workout station may further comprise a matt on which a corresponding exercise is to be performed.
Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart.
For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
IV. Platform Architecture
The server may comprise a processing unit and a memory storage configured to perform a method comprising selecting a series of exercise stations to be employed in a workout plan, wherein the series of exercise stations alternates between cardio stations and strength stations; determining a time for each station in the series of exercise stations; calculating a path between each station; and displaying the path on a display device located in the proximity of the cardio stations and the strength stations. Calculation of the path comprises calculating a route that alternates between a first set of exercise stations and a second set of exercise stations adjacent to the first set of exercise stations. Such route may be a part of a predetermined workout plan or a customized workout plan.
As will be detailed with reference to
As illustrated in
With reference to
Computing device 600 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 600 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 600 may also contain a communication connection 616 that may allow device 600 to communicate with other computing devices 618, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection 616 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 604, including operating system 605. While executing on processing unit 602, programming modules 606 (e.g., application 620) may perform processes including, for example, one or more of the methods and systems as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit 602 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the disclosure, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, solid state storage (e.g., USB drive), or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the disclosure.
All rights including copyrights in the code included herein are vested in and the property of the Applicant. The Applicant retains and reserves all rights in the code included herein, and grants permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
V. Claims
While the specification includes examples, the disclosure's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the disclosure.
Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the disclosures are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claims such additional disclosures is reserved.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a first set of exercise stations laid out in a first row, wherein the first set of exercise stations comprises strength equipment;
- a second set of exercise stations laid out in a second row, wherein the second set of exercise stations comprises cardio equipment; and
- a timer.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of exercise stations contains an equal number of stations as the second set of exercise stations.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the timer is configured to issue an alert at regular intervals, the alert indicating to a user of the system to switch from a first station to a second station.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first station is part of the first set of exercise stations and the second station is part of the second set of exercise stations.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display unit is configured to display a path by which a system user is to transition between the first set of exercise stations and the second set of exercise stations.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display unit is configured to display a location of the system user relative to the path, the first set of exercise stations, and the second set of exercise stations.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the path is configured by a system operator.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the display unit is configured to display biometric data associated with a system user.
10. A method comprising:
- selecting a series of exercise stations to be employed in a workout plan, wherein the series of exercise stations alternates between cardio stations and strength stations;
- determining a time for each station in the series of exercise stations;
- calculating a path between each station; and
- displaying the path on a display device located in the proximity of the cardio stations and the strength stations.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein calculation the path comprises calculating a route that alternates between a first set of exercise stations and a second set of exercise stations adjacent to the first set of exercise stations.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising tracking a user along the path.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein tracking the user along the path comprises employing a timer configured to indicate a time for transitioning between a first station and a second station in the series of exercise stations.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting the serious of exercise stations comprises selecting from a preconfigured workout plan.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting the serious of exercise stations comprises customizing a workout plan.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2014
Publication Date: May 14, 2015
Inventors: Marcus J. Shanahan (Dunwoody, GA), Bill Burke (Powder Springs, GA)
Application Number: 14/536,107
International Classification: A63B 71/06 (20060101);