Exercise apparatus and method for tracking number of steps

Abstract

Disclosed is an exercise apparatus for use in accurately and automatically tracking number of steps taken by a user both on and off of an exercise machine. The apparatus comprises a step counter such as a pedometer for counting number of steps taken by a user, the step counter continually counting cumulative number of steps taken in a given time period both while the user is on and off of the exercise machine, the step counter having a first communication means for periodically communicating the current cumulative step count to a console of an exercise machine while the user uses the exercise machine; and, the console comprising, a second communication means for receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine. The apparatus may further comprise a data processor, a display and a memory means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] Many people rely on programs of physical exercise to attain and to maintain health. Several such programs require that a person perform a daily minimum amount of exercise. For example, the 10,000-step program requires that a person perform a minimum of 10,000 steps of walking, running or the like each day for an average cumulative distance of over 5 miles. [0002] In order to achieve this type of goal, many people wear a pedometer throughout their day to monitor the number of steps completed while walking about or running. The minimum number of steps may be completed on a piece of exercise machine such as a treadmill. A problem arises, however, in enabling accurate tracking of the cumulative total steps achieved both on and off of the exercise machine with minimal effort on the part of the person performing the exercise. [0003] Information potentially relevant to attempts to address these and related motivational problems can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Several objects and advantages of the present invention are: (a) to provide an exercise apparatus that enables a user to easily and accurately track number of steps taken each day in order to facilitate accomplishment of a goal number of steps; (b) to provide an apparatus with communication means between components that eliminates the need for manual input of step count by a user to an exercise machine; (c) to provide an apparatus that improves accuracy of step count data by restricting sensing of steps taken to one device, a step counter such as a pedometer, which is employed while the user is exercising both on and off of an exercise machine, thus eliminating errors that result when data are combined across devices; (d) to improve the accuracy of step count by employing a step counter that uses an accelerometer to determine step count; and, (e) to further enable storing and analysis of historical data by user for the tracking of performance over time.

Problems solved by technology

A problem arises, however, in enabling accurate tracking of the cumulative total steps achieved both on and off of the exercise machine with minimal effort on the part of the person performing the exercise.

However, each of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: (1) it requires that a user manually transfer data on number of steps achieved while off the exercise machine from a pedometer to an exercise machine; (2) it requires that an elaborate estimation of stride- or strike-length be made in order to convert time spent on the exercise machine to number of steps, leading to inaccurate equivalent step counts, failure to account for variations in a user's stride length over time and limiting use of the equipment to one user of known stride-length; (3) it relies on elaborate mechanisms within the exercise machine to detect number of steps; and / or, (4) it relies on the pedometer, with its limited capacity for processing and storage of data, for calculation and storage of cumulative step data limiting its longer term tracking and logging capabilities.

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