WO2006087738A1 - Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines - Google Patents

Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006087738A1
WO2006087738A1 PCT/IT2005/000084 IT2005000084W WO2006087738A1 WO 2006087738 A1 WO2006087738 A1 WO 2006087738A1 IT 2005000084 W IT2005000084 W IT 2005000084W WO 2006087738 A1 WO2006087738 A1 WO 2006087738A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
server
machine
user interface
fitness machines
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2005/000084
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Giorgio Parise
Original Assignee
Cammax S.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cammax S.A. filed Critical Cammax S.A.
Priority to PCT/IT2005/000084 priority Critical patent/WO2006087738A1/en
Publication of WO2006087738A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006087738A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B24/00—Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/30—Maintenance
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/30—Maintenance
    • A63B2225/305—Remote servicing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/50—Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B24/00—Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
    • A63B24/0075—Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic wireless system for the automatic management and setting of a plurality of fitness machines.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an electronic management system that overcomes said drawbacks.
  • This object is achieved by means of a system including a central server with a wireless connection to a plurality of electronic fitness machines, each of said machines being provided with an RF transceiver to exchange data with the server as well as with a user interface to receive a user ID code.
  • a central server with a wireless connection to a plurality of electronic fitness machines, each of said machines being provided with an RF transceiver to exchange data with the server as well as with a user interface to receive a user ID code.
  • the main advantage of this system is that of allowing the user to follow his/her training program without wasting time neither for setting the machine at each workout station nor for recording the performed workout.
  • a system includes a central server 1 provided with a memory unit suitable to store the profiles and training programs of the gymnasium users, i.e. all the parameters to set for each user the different fitness machines to be used during the workout session such as a cycle 2, a weight lifting device 3 or a treadmill 4.
  • both server 1 and the fitness machines 2, 3, 4 are provided with RF transceivers 5 that allow to realize a wireless connection 6 between server 1 and each of the machines, which are further provided with a user interface (not illustrated) to receive a user ID code.
  • the above-mentioned fitness machines are electronic machines, i.e. they are provided with a display and an electronic unit used both to set the machine operating parameters and to detect and display the workout performed by the user.
  • the RF transceiver 5 is operatively connected to said electronic unit so as to transmit thereto the setting data received from server 1 and to receive therefrom the data relating to the workout performed by the user.
  • the user interface is operatively connected to the electronic unit so as to transmit thereto the user ID code, which is then transmitted to server 1 through RF transceiver 5.
  • the user interface to provide the machine with the ID code of the user that will use said machine can be made in various ways, more or less sophisticated but substantially equivalent, the simplest arrangement being a numerical keypad on which the user types his/her code number.
  • the simplest arrangement being a numerical keypad on which the user types his/her code number.
  • he/she can be provided with an ID member and the machines with a reading unit suitable to read said ID member.
  • Examples of such types of user interface are a bar code and a bar code reader, a magnetic card and a magnetic card reader or preferably a transponder that transmits the user ID to the machine through the same RF transceiver 5 that the latter employs for the wireless connection to server 1.
  • server 1 At the end of the exercise the machine transmits the workout data to server 1 that stores them for subsequent use (trainer check, training level update, statistics on machine usage, etc.). For convenience of the user, server 1 can also reply with the indication of the following machine to be used so as to guide the user along a suitable training program.
  • server 1 can be supported by one or more auxiliary servers that may be useful as backup units in case of failure, for the offline uploading of user profiles and the like.

Abstract

An electronic wireless system for the management of a plurality of fitness machines includes a central server (1) and a plurality of fitness machines (2, 3, 4) each of which is provided with an electronic unit, both the server (1) and the fitness machines (2, 3, 4) being provided with RF transceivers (5) that allow to realize a wireless connection (6) between the server (1) and fitness machines (2, 3, 4), in each machine there being further provided a user interface suitable to receive a user ID code, both the user interface and the RF transceiver (5) being operatively connected to the electronic unit. In this way, when the user wishes to use a certain fitness machine he/she only has to provide his/her user ID through the user interface, whereby the machine transmits the user ID to the server (1) that replies with the settings corresponding to the user profile stored in its memory unit, and at the end of the exercise the machine transmits the workout data to the server (1) that stores them for subsequent use. As a consequence, the user can follow his/her training program without wasting time neither for setting the machine at each workout station nor for recording the performed workout, the trainer can check the compliance of each user to the prescribed training program and easily modify said program by changing the user profile stored in the server (1), and the gymnasium can monitor the actual use of each machine and thus schedule in advance the required maintenance interventions.

Description

"ELECTRONIC WIRELESS SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FITNESS MACHINES1'
The present invention relates to an electronic wireless system for the automatic management and setting of a plurality of fitness machines.
It is known that gymnasiums are provided with increasingly sophisticated fitness machines, with several electronic settings that allow the user to carry out a physical exercise specific for his/her needs and to precisely detect the amount of performed workout. However, exactly this complexity of the machines and their diversity (e.g. treadmill, cycle, weight lifting device, etc.) makes difficult for the user both setting each machine for the exercise to be carried out and keeping track of the performed workout and of the reached training level.
This results in the user, or a specific operator in charge of assisting him/her, wasting time to set each machine according to need and to record the performed workout.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide an electronic management system that overcomes said drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of a system including a central server with a wireless connection to a plurality of electronic fitness machines, each of said machines being provided with an RF transceiver to exchange data with the server as well as with a user interface to receive a user ID code. Other advantageous features of the present system are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The main advantage of this system is that of allowing the user to follow his/her training program without wasting time neither for setting the machine at each workout station nor for recording the performed workout.
A further advantage of such a system is that of allowing the trainer to check the compliance of each user to the prescribed training program, and to easily modify said program by changing the user profile stored in the server. Still another advantage of the present system is that of allowing the gymnasium to monitor the actual use of each machine and thus schedule in advance the required maintenance interventions, thus reducing the costs caused by machine failures, down time and unnecessary maintenance.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the system according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled, in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the only drawing, annexed as fig.l, wherein the elements of the system are diagrarnmatically illustrated.
With reference to said figure there is seen that a system according to the invention includes a central server 1 provided with a memory unit suitable to store the profiles and training programs of the gymnasium users, i.e. all the parameters to set for each user the different fitness machines to be used during the workout session such as a cycle 2, a weight lifting device 3 or a treadmill 4.
The novel aspect of the present invention is given by the fact that both server 1 and the fitness machines 2, 3, 4 are provided with RF transceivers 5 that allow to realize a wireless connection 6 between server 1 and each of the machines, which are further provided with a user interface (not illustrated) to receive a user ID code.
The above-mentioned fitness machines are electronic machines, i.e. they are provided with a display and an electronic unit used both to set the machine operating parameters and to detect and display the workout performed by the user.
The RF transceiver 5 is operatively connected to said electronic unit so as to transmit thereto the setting data received from server 1 and to receive therefrom the data relating to the workout performed by the user. Obviously, also the user interface is operatively connected to the electronic unit so as to transmit thereto the user ID code, which is then transmitted to server 1 through RF transceiver 5.
The user interface to provide the machine with the ID code of the user that will use said machine can be made in various ways, more or less sophisticated but substantially equivalent, the simplest arrangement being a numerical keypad on which the user types his/her code number. In order to prevent typing errors and to dispense the user with the need to remember the code, he/she can be provided with an ID member and the machines with a reading unit suitable to read said ID member.
Examples of such types of user interface are a bar code and a bar code reader, a magnetic card and a magnetic card reader or preferably a transponder that transmits the user ID to the machine through the same RF transceiver 5 that the latter employs for the wireless connection to server 1.
The operation of the system according to the present invention is readily understood from the description above.
When the user wishes to use a certain fitness machine he/she only has to provide his/her user ID through the user interface, whereby the machine transmits the user ID to server 1 that replies with the settings corresponding to the user profile stored in its memory unit.
At the end of the exercise the machine transmits the workout data to server 1 that stores them for subsequent use (trainer check, training level update, statistics on machine usage, etc.). For convenience of the user, server 1 can also reply with the indication of the following machine to be used so as to guide the user along a suitable training program.
It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the system according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the type and number of fitness machines that are part of the system can be freely changed and also server 1 can be supported by one or more auxiliary servers that may be useful as backup units in case of failure, for the offline uploading of user profiles and the like.

Claims

- A -CLAIMS
1. Electronic wireless system for the management of a plurality of fitness machines, including at least one central server (1) provided with a memory unit and a plurality of electronic fitness machines (2, 3, 4) each of which is provided with an electronic unit, characterized in that both said at least one server (1) and said fitness machines (2, 3, 4) are provided with RF transceivers (5) that allow to realize a wireless connection (6) between the server (1) and the fitness machines (2, 3, 4), in each machine there being further provided a user interface suitable to receive a user ID code, both said user interface and said RF transceiver (5) being operatively connected to said electronic unit.
2. A system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the user interface is made up of an ID member, held by the user, and a reading unit, arranged on the machine, suitable to read said ID member.
3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the user interface is made up of a bar code and a bar code reader.
4. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the user interface is made up of a magnetic card and a magnetic card reader.
5. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the user interface is made up of a transponder and the same RF transceiver (5).
6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface is made up of a numerical keypad.
7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one auxiliary server that supports the central server (1).
PCT/IT2005/000084 2005-02-17 2005-02-17 Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines WO2006087738A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2005/000084 WO2006087738A1 (en) 2005-02-17 2005-02-17 Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2005/000084 WO2006087738A1 (en) 2005-02-17 2005-02-17 Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006087738A1 true WO2006087738A1 (en) 2006-08-24

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2005/000084 WO2006087738A1 (en) 2005-02-17 2005-02-17 Electronic wireless system for the management of fitness machines

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2006087738A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2156815A1 (en) * 2008-08-22 2010-02-24 Rüdiger Dr. Buschfort System for training movement processes
CN103100202A (en) * 2011-11-11 2013-05-15 张家祥 Bodybuilding equipment and bodybuilding method thereof
US8622873B2 (en) 2009-07-27 2014-01-07 Rhoderick Euan MCGOWN Exercise equipment usage monitoring method and apparatus
WO2015038051A1 (en) * 2013-09-10 2015-03-19 Cloudgym Sweden Ab An integrated system for digitization of gym/health industry

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030013072A1 (en) * 2001-07-03 2003-01-16 Thomas Richard Todd Processor adjustable exercise apparatus
US6601016B1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2003-07-29 International Business Machines Corporation Monitoring fitness activity across diverse exercise machines utilizing a universally accessible server system
US6659916B1 (en) * 1997-04-28 2003-12-09 Michael J. Shea Exercise system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6659916B1 (en) * 1997-04-28 2003-12-09 Michael J. Shea Exercise system
US6601016B1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2003-07-29 International Business Machines Corporation Monitoring fitness activity across diverse exercise machines utilizing a universally accessible server system
US20030013072A1 (en) * 2001-07-03 2003-01-16 Thomas Richard Todd Processor adjustable exercise apparatus

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2156815A1 (en) * 2008-08-22 2010-02-24 Rüdiger Dr. Buschfort System for training movement processes
US8622873B2 (en) 2009-07-27 2014-01-07 Rhoderick Euan MCGOWN Exercise equipment usage monitoring method and apparatus
US9618527B2 (en) 2009-07-27 2017-04-11 Rhoderick Euan MCGOWN Exercise equipment usage monitoring method and apparatus
CN103100202A (en) * 2011-11-11 2013-05-15 张家祥 Bodybuilding equipment and bodybuilding method thereof
CN103100202B (en) * 2011-11-11 2015-05-13 张家祥 Bodybuilding equipment and bodybuilding method thereof
WO2015038051A1 (en) * 2013-09-10 2015-03-19 Cloudgym Sweden Ab An integrated system for digitization of gym/health industry

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