The present invention relates to exercise equipment and in particular to monitored exercise equipment. The invention has been developed primarily for use as a treadmill with monitored step counter and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Treadmills are used for performing walking or running exercises. In addition, treadmills are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

A known treadmill device is taught by international patent application

PCT/AU2008/000833, published as WO/2009/000014, and which is herewith incorporated by reference.

In some instances, a user of a treadmill or a health professional monitoring that user will want to determine the user's activity by measuring, for example, the number of steps taken on the treadmill, the step rate, the time spent on the treadmill etc. An exercise regime may also include statistical analysis of a user's performance. Performance data analysis can be useful, for example to someone who wishes to evaluate his or her fitness progress. Such analysis may be useful when performed remotely from the user, that is, when the person or computer doing the monitoring are not in the user's home or facility. With regard to running, one way of obtaining exercise data, such as the number of steps run or the time or frequency of steps taken, involves attaching a sensor to a user. The attachment of wires or cables to a user may present a safety hazard or an inconvenience for the user. It is therefore desirable to provide a treadmill that has a built-in step sensor and preferably, means of transmitting performance data to a remote location.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide a monitored exercise device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a monitored count apparatus for an exercise device, the exercise device being adapted to enable a user to exercise by at least making a plurality of exercise motions, the apparatus comprising: a monitor module for providing a count signal indicative of a number of the exercise motions made by the user;

a processor module coupled to the monitor module via first communication link for receiving the count signal;

wherein the processor module collates exercise data; the processor module being coupleable to a remote monitoring system via a second communication link; the processor module adapted to transmit one or more exercise records indicative of collated exercise data to the remote monitoring system. The processor module is preferably remote from the exercise device. More preferably, the processor module is remote from, and wirelessly coupled to, the monitor module. Alternatively, the processor module can be physically coupled to the exercise device.

Preferably, the first communication link is either a wireless communication link, or a wired communication link. More preferably, the first communication link is a wireless communication link. Preferably, the processor module can comprise two or more processor module portions distributed between both the exercise device and a communication access point. More preferably, the processor module portions being coupled by a third communication link.

Preferably, the processor module periodically transmits an exercise record. More preferably, the processor module transmits an exercise record upon a motion count reaching a predetermined value.

The monitor module, in generating the count signal, preferably includes any one or more of the following monitor elements: a motor load sensing element for measuring deviation in electrical load on the motor;

a motion detection element including an infrared beam, which is broken by a user while using the exercise device;

a motion detection element for measuring movement of the exercise device during use;

a motion detection element including a balance switch assembly; and

a motion detection element including a transducer coil and magnet assembly.

Preferably, the remote monitoring system includes a database for retaining the one or more exercise records. More preferably, the database can be remotely accessed by an authorised medical practitioner or health professional.

Preferably, an exercise record can include data indicative of any one or more of the set comprising:

number of exercise motions undertaken on the exercise device,

a date an exercise motion was undertaken on the exercise device;

a time an exercise motion was undertaken on the exercise device;

average heart rate of a user while undertaking an exercise motion on the exercise device;

average speed of a user while undertaking an exercise motion on the exercise device; and

overall usage of the exercise device by a user. Preferably, by transmitting the step data to a remote monitoring system, the exercise device can be monitored for use at a prescribed level.

Preferably, the exercise device is a treadmill, and the plurality of exercise motions are steps taken by the user on the treadmill.

Preferably, the processor module is coupleable to a remote monitoring system via wired telephone access point. More preferably, the processor module is coupleable to a remote monitoring system via an inline connection to the wired telephone access point.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of remote monitoring an exercise device, the method comprises the steps of:

(a) counting exercise motions taken by a user, by monitoring a count signal;

(b) determining if the number of counted exercise motions (since a previous

transmission) have exceeded a predetermined limit;

(c) if the predetermined limit has been exceeded, establishing a communication link to a remote monitoring system; and

(d) transmitting one or more exercise records, via the established communication link, to the remote monitoring system.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a processor apparatus for remote monitoring of an exercise device, the apparatus including a processor module as herein described.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an access interface for a processor device, the processor device being adapted to remote monitor an exercise device, the processor device being coupleable to database having one or more exercise records transmitted from the exercise device; the interface comprising: a control program adapted to present one or more exercise records to an authorised medical practitioner. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of remote monitoring an exercise device in a computer system, said method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more exercise records from an exercise device;

(b) storing the one or more exercise records in a database;

(c) presenting a selected one or more exercise records to an authorised medical practitioner.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, the computer program product adapted to provide a method as herein described. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable medium for operation with a processor device, the computer readable medium comprising computer code for executing a method as herein described.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, the computer program product adapted to provide an access interface for a computer device, the computer device being adapted to transmit one or more exercise records, the computer device being coupleable to a database; the computer program product comprising computer readable program means for providing a method of remote monitoring of an exercise device.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, the computer program product adapted to provide an access interface for a computer device, the computer device being adapted to receive one or more exercise records, the computer device being coupleable to a database; the computer program product comprising computer readable program means for providing a method of remote monitoring of an exercise device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a monitored count apparatus for an exercise device, according to the invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a treadmill exercise device;

FIG. 2B is a schematic view of a exercise-cycle exercise device;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a motor load sensing element for a monitor module;

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a motion detection element for a monitor module;

FIG. 3C is a schematic view of a motion detection element for a monitor module;

FIG. 3D is a schematic view of a motion detection element for a monitor module;

FIG. 4 is a graph view of a count signal generated by a monitor module; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for a monitored count apparatus.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment monitored count apparatus for an exercise device, in the form of a monitored step counter treadmill apparatus 100. This apparatus monitors steps taken on the treadmill 110 by a user 120.

This exercise device, by way of example only, is adapted to enable a user to exercise by at least making a plurality of exercise motions, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor module 112 for providing a count signal indicative of a number of the exercise motions made by the user;

a processor module 130 coupled to the monitor module via first communication link 132 for receiving the count signal;

wherein the processor module collates exercise data; the processor module being coupleable to a remote monitoring system 140 via a second communication link 132; the processor module adapted to transmit one or more exercise records indicative of collated exercise data to the remote monitoring system. In this embodiment, the user's steps are counted by the monitor module 112. The monitor module transmits count signal indicative of steps made by the user. This count signal can be transmitted to a processor module 130 either periodically or continuously (at each step).

The processor module 130 collates exercise data in preparing an exercise record. By way of example, an exercise record can include data indicative of any one or more of the set comprising:

number of steps undertaken by a user on the treadmill device;

a date steps were undertaken by a user on the treadmill device;

a time an steps were undertaken by a user on the treadmill device;

average heart rate of a user while undertaking steps on the treadmill device; average speed of a user while undertaking steps on the treadmill device; and overall usage of the treadmill by a user.

The processor module 130 is adapted to transmit one or more exercise records indicative of collated exercise data to the remote monitoring system 140. The processor module can periodically (or selectively) transmit an exercise record or transmit an exercise record upon a step count reaching a predetermined value. For example, the processor module, upon receiving a count signal indicative of a preset step count being taken, communicates one or more exercise records with a remote monitoring system 140. The processor module 130 can be operatively associated with an onboard transmitter element, plug-in transmitter element; or a remote transmitter element, which utilises wired or wireless signal communication.

By transmitting the exercise records to a remote monitoring system, the treadmill can be remotely monitored for use at a prescribed level. The exercise records are stored in a database that can be remotely accessed by any one or more of the following: an authorised medical practitioner; a health professional; personal trainer; equipment provider; or an automated computer system. By monitoring use of the exercise device, an intended user can be sent reminders or updates as to whether or not the user has reached a set goal. It would be appreciated that, a reminder or update can be sent via phone (voice or SMS) or email. It would be further appreciated that, a reminder or update can be sent automatically by an automated computer system monitoring the database. Alternatively, a reminder or update can be manually initiated by an operator monitoring the database. The processor module 130 is preferably remote from the treadmill device 110, and wirelessly coupled to, the monitor module 112. However, it will be appreciated that the processor module can alternatively be physically coupled to the exercise device.

In this embodiment, the first communication link 132 is either a wireless communication link, or a wired communication link. It will be appreciated that the processor module can comprise two or more processor module portions (not shown) distributed between both the exercise device and a communication access point, wherein the processor module potions are coupled by a third communication link.

It would be appreciated that the processor module 130 can communicate with the remote monitoring system using a data or telecommunication network 150, which may include a wired and/or wireless communication.

It would be further appreciated that the remote monitoring system can comprise data communication to a computing device 142 or to a human operator via a landline 144 or mobile communication 146.

In an embodiment, the processor module 130 can be in the form of an inline

telecommunication module connected to a standard wired telephone access point (or connection). A telephone can be further connected to the processor module. This module can be adapted to auto dial a telephone number (when not used by a standard telephone handset) and transmit one or more exercise records indicative of collated exercise data to the remote monitoring system. By way of example only, exercise records can be transmitted as: voice synthesized voice data to an message bank or operator;

facsimile data providing a printed report; and/or

digital data record to a remote computer. Therefore, exercise records can be received by a remote monitoring system, as: a direct voice call, or a voice mail message, to a monitoring operator;

a facsimile report to a monitoring operator;

digital data record to a remote computer. It will be appreciate that exercise records can be transmitted or received as a digital data record communicated via a wired or wireless communication network using either telephony protocols (for example DTFM or Touch-Tone) or data network protocols (for example TCP/IP).

In an embodiment, the processor module can be wirelessly connected to a monitor module contained within the exercise treadmill. Alternatively, the processor module can be incorporated within the exercise treadmill, being provided as a plug in to the exercise treadmill, or being provided as a separate stand alone device.

FIG. 2 A shows an embodiment exercise device in the form of a treadmill device 200. This treadmill device has a belt frame 201. The frame 201 is preferably supported by a pair of rear wheels 202 to facilitate the transport of the treadmill 200. The frame 201 has a treadmill belt 203 supported between two lateral elongated frame members 204, 205. A front cover 206 may be provided along the front edge of the frame 201 to protect components such as gears, motors, or incline mechanisms. The treadmill 200 further comprises an upright frame 207, including a pair of uprights 221, 222. A crosspiece or panel 223 spans at least the distance between the tops of the two uprights 221, 222.

In this example, the crosspiece or panel 223 includes a moulded "dashboard" that has an integral user interface panel section 224. The user interface panel section 224 is subdivided into a first sub-panel 225 and a second sub-panel 226 attached to one another by a hinge 227. The crosspiece 223 further comprises recesses 228 suitable for holding water bottles or other personal belongings. The recesses are preferably formed into the crosspiece 223 but to either side of the first sub-panel 225.

Each of the pair of uprights 221, 222 or the crosspiece 223 may be attached to, or integral with, a pair of handles 232, 233. The handles may be at an angle to the crosspiece. In this example the handles extend rearward. The handles may include sensors such as pulse rate sensors 229.

The treadmill may further have a safety key (or a dead man's switch) 230 that shuts down the treadmill in the event of emergency. The safety key 230 is linked to the user via a cord. The cord is a lanyard that may be clipped to the user. In the event that the user accidentally falls off the treadmill or otherwise leaves the treadmill, the safety key becomes unseated from its physical port, causing the treadmill to stop or be shut down.

The first and second sub-panels of the user interface provide a display areas or user controls. The opening and closing of the second sub-panel can switch the treadmill and its associated electronics on or off.

The user controls can (without limitation) be keys, buttons, sliders, etc. These controls allow a user to start or stop the work-out, or enter work-out parameters, such as weight, age, work-out time, intensity, target heart-rate, work-out program, and the like. The display areas show the work-out parameters entered by the users or work-out statistics generated during the exercise. There may be indicators such as lights that are selectively lit based on the work-out mode or progress.

FIG. 2B shows and an alternative embodiment exercise device in the form of an exercise-cycle device 250. It will be appreciated that examples, without limitation, include stepping machines, rowing machines, or cross trainers.

The monitor module can generate a signal indicative of steps taken by the user.

Referring to FIG. 3A through FIG. 3D, by way of example, electronic circuits for producing a signal indicative of steps taken by the user on a treadmill can include: a motor load sensing element 300 (as best shown in FIG. 3A) for measuring the electrical load on the motor and generate a count signal between terminals 301 and 302. For example, the count signal can be associated with deviation in supply voltage across (or current through) a treadmill motor caused by changing the load conditions from user running on the deck of the treadmill;

a motion detection element 310 (as best shown in FIG. 3B) includes a balance switch assembly 312, wherein steps taken by a user causes the treadmill deck to move up and down, and this vertical reflection of the deck causes a balance switch to make an break and electrical switch contact, which can generate a count signal between terminals 301 and 302;

a motion detection element 320 (as best shown in FIG. 3C) includes an infrared transmitter 322/ infrared receiver 224 pair for generating and detecting an infrared beam 226, which is broken by a user while using the treadmill, and this breaking of the infrared beam can generate a count signal between terminals 301 and 302; and

a motion detection element 330 (as best shown in FIG. 3D) includes a transducer coil 332 and magnet assembly 334, wherein the user causes the treadmill deck 336 to move up and down thereby moving the magnet within the coil, which can generate a count signal between terminals 301 and 302.

Each step pulse between terminals 301 and 302 can be measured and/or countered electronically. The count signal is related to a user activity. In an embodiment, the treadmill provides data in a transmittable format that is based on the count signal, and can be transmitted to a processor module.

FIG. 4 shows, by way of example only, a count signal 400 represented as a voltage (or current) time graph 401 , wherein variations in the magnitude 402 of the signal is indicative of user activity, and can be measure and/or countered electronically.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart 500 for a method of remote monitoring a treadmill exercise device. The method comprises the steps of:

STEP 510: counting steps taken by a user by monitoring a count signal;

STEP 520: determining if the number of counted steps (since last transmission) have exceeded a predetermined limit;

STEP 530: if the predetermined limit has been exceeded, establishing a

communication link to a remote monitoring system; and

STEP 540: transmitting one or more exercise records, via the established

communication link, to the remote monitoring system. In an embodiment, when at the processor module the count signal received from the treadmill monitor module reaches a present limit (or multiples thereof), the processor module can autodial a predetermined telephone number and transmit a signal over a standard connection to a remote monitoring system. By way of example only, the one or more exercise records can be indicative of the user's use of the treadmill including: the number of steps taken on the treadmill;

date and time steps were taken;

average heart rate while taking steps;

average speed; and

overall distance travelled.

It will be appreciated that, by transmitting the one or more exercise records to a remote monitoring system, it is possible to know if the machine is being used at a prescribed level. It would be further appreciated that, by providing a processor module that can be coupled inline with a standard telephone connection, a user may be able to incorporate the monitored step counter apparatus without the necessity of providing additional data communication facilities. A toll free number can also be provided to minimise the user's costs. Alternatively, calls can be made at a predetermined time, when call costs are lower. The processor module can typically be programmed for a variable preset target, such that the number of telephone calls or data communications, can be minimised.

It would be further appreciated that, one or more exercise records transmitted to the remote monitoring system can be in the form of digital data or voice data. The processor module can incorporate a speech synthesis element for transmitting the exercise records over standard telephone communications to an operator, or a voice message bank monitored by an operator, wherein data can be transcribed and entered into a digital database. Similarly, data can be transmitted using a facsimile protocol for printing a written report at the remote monitoring system, wherein data can be transcribed and entered into a digital database.

It would be further appreciated that, a processor module can further include a wired or wireless data network transmitter for communicating digital exercise records directly to a remove monitoring facility computer (for example 142, as shown in FIG. 1) and having the exercise records directly recorded to an electronic database. Similarly the processor module may transmit one or more exercise records digitally using dial-tone multi- frequency signalling (DTMF) or touch-tone telecommunication signalling over the analogue telephone lines. An electronic database containing the one or more exercise records can be accessed by an authorised practitioner. The electronic database can incorporate (or be augmented) by patient data including patient weight.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated apparatus discloses a monitored exercise device.

It would be appreciated that, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carrying out such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying out the method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment.

Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that are for execution on one or more processors. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as

"processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining" or the like, can refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

In a similar manner, the term "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A "computer" or a "computing machine" or a "computing platform" may include one or more processors.

The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken is included.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "coupled", when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and "connected", along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary

embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

It will be appreciated that an embodiment of the invention can consist essentially of features disclosed herein. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can consist of features disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.