Passively tracking activity of cabled-resistance strength training exercise machines

Abstract

To provide an apparatus and method for tracking user activity of an exercise machine.SOLUTION: An apparatus may include a tension measurement device installed at some location along the tension linkage path of a cabled-resistance strength training exercise machine, to passively measure changes in tension along the linkage path. By detecting and interpreting such changes, the apparatus facilitates tracking of personal performance data without the need for the user to perform any record-keeping actions. Rather, such tracking can take place passively, without user action or involvement. Various performance metrics of weight, reps and sets, may be automatically produced, and may be further automatically augmented as desired. The apparatus may also provide branding, marketing, and physical resource monitoring advantages for the health club / gym.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 625,179, entitled "Device, System, and Method for Passively Tracking Activity of Cabled-Resistance Strength Training Machines," filed January 25, 2024 (Attorney Docket No. GAR001-PROV), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION This disclosure relates to techniques for measuring and tracking activity on cable resistance strength training exercise machines. [Background technology]

[0003] Health clubs and gyms employ many different types of strength training exercise machines, which are generally designed to improve the performance of various muscles in the human body. Such machines are often configured to move adjustable and non-adjustable resistance loads connected by wire cables. More specifically, the machines may operate by providing resistance to muscular movements by pulling on cables weighted by a selected number of individual weight units.

[0004] 1, an example of such a configuration is shown, including a weight stack assembly 107 commonly used in many strength training exercise machines. The force of a user's muscular effort is transmitted from an origin on the machine (not shown in FIG. 1) in physical contact with the user, optionally through a pulley assembly (not shown in FIG. 1), to a resistance load, such as the weight stack assembly 107. The force generated by the user may be transmitted by a steel cable 100 (which may be covered in plastic or some other material) or by any other suitable means.

[0005] A cable connector 101 may be provided that attaches the cable 100 to a bar connector 102 on a lift bar 103. The lift bar 103 may have horizontal holes 151 cut therethrough, each adapted to receive a weight adjustment pin 104. A user can select a particular resistance load by inserting the pin 104 into a particular hole 151, with different holes providing different resistance loads. For example, in FIG. 1 , the weight adjustment pin 104 is positioned through the hole 151 in the weight marked "50," meaning that the user will be lifting a total of 50 weight units (kg, lb, etc.), including the pinned individual weight 105, all individual weights 105 above it, and the lift bar 103 (which typically weighs several times the weight 105). In the example of FIG. 1 , the weight numbers indicate that the lift bar 103, as well as each individual weight 105, comprises approximately 10 weight units.

[0006] Once a weight is selected, the user can exercise by repeatedly raising and lowering a selected portion of the weight stack assembly 107 by pulling and then slowly releasing an element (such as a bar or handle) that may be connected to the cable 100.

[0007] While most health clubs leave it entirely up to the user (or their trainer) to count repetitions ("reps") and provide a means of recording their own personal exercise performance, some health clubs provide file storage devices where users can manually save these records, such as the amount of weight, the number of repetitions performed (typically 8-12), and the number of sets of reps ("sets," typically 1-3). Users (and / or their trainers) often have difficulty keeping track of the number of repetitions or sets they have performed for a given exercise, especially when they are distracted. Thus, maintaining a consistent exercise program and tracking progress can be difficult for users, given the fact that manually counting exercise reps and sets can often be inaccurate.

[0008] Additionally, existing techniques for automatically determining the size of a user-selected resistance load generally can be inaccurate and / or cumbersome. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to various embodiments, the apparatus may include a tension measurement device located at a location along the tension linkage path of a cable resistance strength training exercise machine to passively measure changes in tension along the linkage path. By detecting and interpreting such changes, the apparatus facilitates tracking of personal performance data without the user having to take record-keeping action. Rather, such tracking may occur passively, i.e., without user action or involvement. For example, the system may count repetitions and track user effort to ensure the user is properly performing the exercise at the appropriate speed and through the full range of motion.

[0010] According to various embodiments, various performance metrics consisting of weight, reps, and sets may be automatically generated and further automatically augmented by effort metrics, which may be automatically measured and / or tracked by devices and / or assistive devices. Such metrics may be particularly useful to users who are professional athletes and trainers, or who may be recovering from injury.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the device may provide branding, marketing, and physical resource monitoring advantages for sports clubs / gyms. In at least one embodiment, the device described herein may be designed to be retrofitted to traditional cable weight and air resistance strength training exercise machines.

[0012] Further details and variations are described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] The accompanying drawings, together with the description, illustrate several embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the specific embodiments shown in the drawings are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting in scope. [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of a weight stack assembly known in the art. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates an example of a "lat pulldown" exercise machine, showing possible locations for placing tension measuring devices, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a simplified diagram of an example of a tension measuring device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a support system infrastructure for implementing the functionality described herein, according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates an example of a sample report that may be generated by the system described herein, according to one embodiment. [Figure 6]1 is an interior cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a device for removing slack in a cable (a "loop slack reducer") that may be used in connection with the systems described herein, according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an assembly diagram of the loop slack reducer shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 10 illustrates an example of a cable routing shape that forms a simple loop across a loop slack reducer, according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 shows an example of an alternative device for removing slack (a "spiral slack reducer") that is preferred for smaller amounts of slack, according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates an example of a guided cable path shape within a helical slack reducer, according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates an example set of physical components representing an exploded tension measuring device, according to one embodiment. [Figure 12A] 1 illustrates a configuration before and after installation of a tension measuring device on a cable weight stack machine, according to one embodiment. [Figure 12B] 1 illustrates a configuration before and after installation of a tension measuring device on a cable weight stack machine, according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates an example of a configuration in which QR code-based user authentication and exercise selection data may be collected and / or generated, according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a data flow diagram illustrating a method for matching data arriving in two streams, including one stream received from a machine transmitting exercise data and a second stream received from a user who may claim occupancy of the machine, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] As described above, according to various embodiments, a tension measuring device can be installed at a location along a tension connection path of an exercise machine, such as a cable resistance strength training exercise machine. The device can measure tension at any point along the entire tension connection path between the point on the machine where the user applies muscular effort and the point of final resistance application, through all cords, strings, cables, wires, rods, bars, weights, etc. (collectively referred to as "cables") that are subject to tension in the transmission of force ("tension") between these two endpoints. In various embodiments, the device can directly measure and track this tension. Because tension is equal throughout all components that form the tension connection path, the tension measuring device can be placed anywhere along the connection between the point where force is applied and the point of resistance application. Therefore, a particular installation point can be determined based on any suitable factors, such as ease of access, aesthetics, likelihood of tampering or damage, visibility, etc.

[0015] 2 , an example of a “lat pulldown” machine 201 is shown in which a user 250 can apply force by pulling down on a pair of handles 106. Thus, tension can be generated along the entire tension connection path from the handles 106 to a resistance load, which in this case may be the weight stack assembly 107. Possible locations for tension measuring devices described herein include any suitable location along the tension connection path, which begins at the handles 106, passes through the rope and connector shown just above the handles 106, then passes through the cable 100, and passes through the lift bar connector 102 on the weight stack assembly 107, as shown. This entire “cable tension connection path” represents a continuous series of possible locations for placement of tension measuring devices according to various embodiments.

[0016] For many weight stack machines, such as machine 201, a location directly above bar connector 102 may be one example of a particularly suitable location for mounting a tension measuring device as described herein, due to the ease of installing the device at such a location. In at least one embodiment, the device may be easily inserted at such a point in a matter of minutes using only a simple wrench, providing a convenient technique for retrofitting such machines 201 and / or most other types of cable weight machines.

[0017] Tension Measuring Device Referring now to FIG. 3 , a simplified diagram of an example of an in-line tension measurement device 114, according to one embodiment, that may be configured to measure tension along cable 100 is shown. Device 114 includes a tension sensor 109 rated sufficiently to withstand the maximum tension that may occur within the tension connection path of the particular type of strength training exercise machine involved. As noted above, in at least one embodiment, device 114 may be placed directly within the tension connection path. Thus, a rigid structural element 108 having universal connectors (configured to provide adapter connectors as needed) may be connected to two ends of tension sensor 109 to maintain a continuous tension path through device 114. Cable 100 (not shown in FIG. 3 ) may be attached directly to element 108 or to another component attached to element 108.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, tension sensor 109 may provide an electrical signal as an output. In at least one embodiment, an optional signal amplifier 110 may be provided to amplify the electrical signal as needed. In at least one embodiment, the electrical signal may then be transmitted to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 116 and from there to a logic circuit 111, such as a microcontroller (MCU), microprocessor unit (MPU), or other logic computing unit. In at least one embodiment, logic circuit 111 may convert and store digital tension data received from ADC 116 into digital tension time-series data. Such data may then be processed and transmitted via any suitable communication means to a supporting data processing infrastructure for further analysis and processing as described below.

[0019] Any suitable form of wired or wireless communication means may be used to transmit the digital tension time-series data and / or summaries thereof. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a wireless radio transceiver 112 is shown, which may operate using, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, LoRa, etc. Alternatively, a wired transmission mechanism (not shown), for example, Ethernet, serial cable, etc., may be used. Wireless means may be preferred because the tension path is in motion during use, making it potentially difficult to attach wired components in a manner that ensures a reliable connection.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, device 114 may include an acceleration sensor 113 with optional amplifier 110, whose signal follows a similar path to ADC 116, from there to logic circuitry 111, and then forwarded to radio 112 for data transmission. In this manner, acceleration data regarding the movement of moving components of a strength training exercise machine can be interactively combined with tension measurements ("sensor fusion") for improved, more accurate results, as well as to generate additional metrics such as effort.

[0021] In at least one embodiment, data may be stored on device 114 and transmitted in batches. Such storage may be achieved using any suitable solid-state or other storage device 123. In one embodiment, storage device 123 may be implemented as a microSD card or similar device that may be used as temporary local storage, thereby shortening long time series of tension data into relatively short and / or less frequent data transmissions, potentially lowering radio power requirements. Alternatively, storage device 123 may be omitted, for example, if logic unit 111 includes a storage device.

[0022] In at least one embodiment, a power supply 115 may be provided that may power various components of the device 114. The power supply 115 may be implemented as a replaceable battery, a rechargeable battery, an AC power source, and / or any other suitable power source.

[0023] In at least one embodiment, some or all elements of device 114 may be protected by a durable container or shell, which may be constructed from plastic, metal, wood, or any other suitable material.

[0024] According to various embodiments described herein, the above configuration allows the repetitions and / or sets to be easily recognized and automatically counted by the tension sensor 109 and / or acceleration sensor 113 of the device 114.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 11, an image showing an example of a set of physical components representing an exploded tension measuring device 114 is shown, according to one embodiment.

[0026] 12A and 12B, a cable weight stack machine (such as machine 201) is shown configured before and after installation of a tension measuring device 114, according to one embodiment. FIG. 12A shows the cable weight stack before installation, with cable connector 101 connecting cable 100 to component 1201 of the exercise machine (which may be part of lift bar 102). FIG. 12B shows the cable weight stack with device 114 installed in a preferred position, with cable connector 101 connecting cable 100 to device 114, which is attached to component 1201.

[0027] Air resistance machine exercises In at least one embodiment, device 114 may be configured to operate with many different types of strength training exercise machines. For example, device 114 may operate in conjunction with an air resistance machine. The cable tension path of an air resistance machine is similar to that of a weight stack machine on the user end, but may be more complex on the resistance load end, where the air resistance machine uses a different connection type. This may include, for example, a spindle that winds up the cable at the end of a repetition and unwinds it with a negative torque (creating a resistance load) when the user 250 applies force. Thus, in such a configuration, device 114 may be most conveniently mounted near the user end, whereas on a weight stack machine, it may typically be more convenient to mount device 114 at the resistance load end. On the other hand, the spindle is in the tension connection path, allowing for a configuration in which a torque sensor is used instead of tension sensor 109. Device 114 may then be mounted to both the spindle itself (in-line, connected to its axis of rotation) and to a rigid portion of the machine frame. In this situation, the shaft torque becomes a natural and accurate proxy for the cable tension.

[0028] Support System Infrastructure 4, a block diagram illustrating an example of a support system infrastructure 400 for implementing the functionality described herein, according to one embodiment, is shown. In at least one embodiment, infrastructure 400 may include various components that support the capture and use of in-line tension and / or acceleration sensor data.

[0029] In at least one embodiment, device 114 may automatically and passively generate and transmit data describing tension (and / or torque / acceleration), weight, reps, sets, and related exercise metrics, as described above. In at least one embodiment, such data may then be associated with specific identified users, machines, and / or times to enhance its usefulness and provide greater insight.

[0030] Various other components shown in FIG. 4 may support data collection, processing, and report generation as follows:

[0031] The ID token reader 122 may perform user identification in any suitable manner, such as through the use of a physical token reader. In this context, a “token” may refer to any digital element that uniquely identifies the user 250. Examples include a QR code or barcode on a mobile phone or printed material, a number typed on a keyboard, a mobile phone number, an internal ID in a smartphone app, facial recognition, or various other methods and encodings. One token method may be implemented using NFC (“near field communication”) tags, such as those provided by many health clubs to members, for client identification purposes upon entry or at check-in points. Alternatively, the system may use NFC tags, such as those used in conjunction with NFC tag readers built into many console treadmills and / or elliptical machines. Thus, NFC tags and readers represent one natural choice for describing valid user ID tokens and readers. To conveniently and accurately identify machine users, a token reader may be attached directly to each machine used or within sufficient reach of each machine used, thereby also identifying that particular machine. In yet another embodiment, facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and / or other biometric techniques may be used to identify the user and associate the user's data with measurements performed by the system.

[0032] One preferred example of token-based user authentication may occur in situations where most users bring their smartphones to the gym. This allows the user to use the smartphone or other device to scan a QR code or barcode for a particular exercise and machine that is affixed to or near a particular cable resistance machine. In this case, an app installed on the smartphone or other device may then immediately transmit any or all of the following directly to central server 120: (1) the user authentication token, (2) the machine ID, and / or (3) the user's exercise selections. Such a configuration may save the user time by comprehensively providing all user data simultaneously rather than sequentially, especially when multiple exercises may be performed on the same machine.

[0033] The system may also include a radio component 118 that enables wireless communication between the device 114 and the central server 120 via a network gateway 119. In at least one embodiment, the radio component 118 may be implemented as a low-power LoRa (“long range”) radio, thus providing longer battery life.

[0034] Alternatively, a wired data connection may be used, although such an approach may be less convenient. Any suitable wireless or wired protocol may be used, including those described above. A wireless network gateway 119 may also be used to collect such radio transmissions. As noted above, it may be most convenient to employ the same protocol in the gateway 119 as is used by the device 114, although different protocols may be used, and multiple gateway types may be provided if desired.

[0035] An optional button key device, such as a button pad 117, may be included. The button pad 117 may include several buttons that can be activated by the user 250 to provide control information (and possibly a user ID token). For example, the user 250 may press buttons to indicate the start or end of an exercise, the type of exercise, etc., to clarify that exercise data is being attributed to the appropriate user beyond what may be possible using a simple timeout. The button pad 117 may also include visual and / or audible output indicators, such as LED lights, speakers, etc., to provide feedback information, such as indicating that a set is about to end due to an impending timeout, the selection of an exercise type on a multi-exercise machine, or that the user 250 did not provide an ID token before starting an exercise. Instead of (or in addition to) such output indicators, an output device, such as a screen 124, may be included to provide additional feedback to the user 250. For example, the screen 124 may suggest a recommended weight, e.g., "try 55-60 pounds 3 x 12," based on the user's identity and their history on the machine. In at least one embodiment, the button pad 117 (including associated output indicators) and / or the screen 124 may be mounted locally or proximate to the exercise machine so that they are readily and visually available to the user 250. In at least one embodiment, the button pad 117 (including associated output indicators) and / or the screen 124 may be physically and / or electronically connected to the ID token reader 122 and / or other components of the infrastructure 400. Alternatively or additionally, an app may be provided on the user's smartphone, smartwatch, or other device, which may be used as a multi-purpose input / output device in connection with the techniques described herein. Such a configuration is particularly useful in situations where users habitually bring smartphones and / or other devices to the gym.

[0036] In at least one embodiment, the network gateway 119 is responsible for receiving data from strength training exercise machines that include tension measurement devices 114 .

[0037] In at least one embodiment, a data collection, response, and reporting server 120 (or a cluster of servers) may be provided as part of the gateway network to manage receipt of data. The server 120 may also send responses to the originating device, store, collate, and search the data, and / or prepare reports for delivery to the user 250, medical professionals, trainers, and / or health club administrators, as appropriate. In various embodiments, any suitable means may be used to send such messages, including, for example, SMS text, email, phone call, app notification, etc. Depending on response latency, the server 120 may be located on a local area network (LAN), in the cloud, or both. In at least one embodiment, due to the real-time nature of data collection versus large-scale data archiving and collation requirements, a small local computing server connected to a large cloud server may be a desirable approach.

[0038] In at least one embodiment, server 120 can use the collected data to provide real-time counts of repetitions and / or sets, which may be displayed on a display device proximate the exercise machine, such as screen 124, or transmitted to a device of user 250, such as a smartphone, smartwatch, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the real-time counts may be output in the form of an audio output (such as a beep and / or voice output), a haptic output (such as a vibration or "tap" on a smartphone or smartwatch), and / or any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, user 250 may select the type of real-time output that may be provided and how it is provided to aid in tracking repetitions and / or sets.

[0039] In at least one embodiment, the server 120 may also prepare and send reports to the user via a mobile and / or stationary device 121 (e.g., a mobile phone, a computer, a wearable device such as a smart watch, etc.) and / or to a local visual display on the machine in real time (or near real time) or immediately after exercise. The server 120 may also automatically provide alerts informing health club management in real time (or near real time) about machine usage and maintenance status that are distributed on a LAN (local area network) workstation or mobile computer 121.

[0040] Such reports may indicate, for example, the number of repetitions and / or sets performed and may be displayed, printed, and / or stored as desired. In at least one embodiment, such reports may be transmitted to off-site storage, such as server 120, and / or any other form of cloud storage, for later retrieval and use. The reports may be retrieved and viewed by user 250 and, optionally, by medical professionals, trainers, or other interested individuals, for example, to verify user 250's compliance with a prescribed exercise program and / or progress. Reports may be time- and date-stamped, if desired, using the current time and date, which may be obtained by any suitable means, such as Network Time Protocol (NTP).

[0041] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various components shown in FIG. 4 are illustrative. In alternative embodiments, some of the components may be omitted or arranged differently. For example, in at least one alternative embodiment, data collected by tension measuring device 114 may be used to provide real-time feedback and / or reports of the iterations and / or sets performed, and such feedback and / or reports may be provided by screen 124 (and / or other visual, audio, and / or tactile output devices) without the use of a network connection or server. For example, data collected by tension measuring device 114 may be used to generate a beep, audio output, and / or visual indication of the number of iterations and / or sets performed, without transmitting or storing such information over a network or other means. In at least one embodiment, a local wireless communication link may be established to enable such feedback (visual, audio, and / or tactile) to be output to user 250's cell phone, watch, and / or other portable or wearable device.

[0042] Tension measurement method In at least one embodiment, device 114 operates by measuring the connection tension along cable 100. Such a measurement is not exactly the same as measuring the weight of weight stack assembly 107. For a strength machine employing a weight stack such as assembly 107, while weight stack assembly 107 is stationary, tension may be at a baseline level near zero, independent of the stack weight. When weight stack assembly 107 is not stationary, the relationship between tension T and weight W may be approximately given by the following equation: T=W+AW+R (Equation 1) where A is the acceleration of the weight stack assembly 107 and R is the dynamic frictional resistance (which is usually small due to the quality of the pulleys and the slippery plastic cable coating). When the weight stack assembly 107 is stationary, the tension T may be at a baseline value near zero. Therefore, the start of a new set (when the weight stack assembly 107 is lifted) may be recorded by a sudden transition from the baseline T to the higher equation value shown above. To start moving the weight stack, the initial acceleration A needs to be positive, and as the user 250 applies more force, the A value may become larger. Therefore, the tension may initially exceed the weight early in the repetition. Once the weight stack assembly 107 is fully raised, the acceleration may turn negative. Therefore, the tension may be less than the weight at this point. Therefore, the repetition may be approximately recorded by a cyclical pattern of tension values T over time.

[0043] Sets can then be measured by establishing timeouts, including intervals between reps. In addition to these, a novel tension-based metric of work done is enabled, as described in more detail below.

[0044] This distinction between weight and tension has at least two implications. A new metric could be introduced by measuring tension (as opposed to weight), which could be of further interest to serious athletes and their trainers as it could more accurately reflect the actual user work rate than nominal weight. Traditional metrics, including nominal weight, may continue to be of independent interest to users. Therefore, it would be advantageous to understand the relationship between tension and weight during a repetitive cycle for various resistance load types and various types of strength training exercise machines.

[0045] As is evident from Equation 1, additional measurement of acceleration A may improve the accuracy of the estimation of weight W and refine the detection of repeating cycles. Meanwhile, tension T may exhibit the same periodic nature as acceleration A in some machines or settings. Correspondingly, in at least one embodiment, the device may optionally measure tension path acceleration in addition to the physical tension along the tension connection path as described above.

[0046] However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the use of acceleration data is optional, and the above-described systems and methods can also be implemented using only tension measurements without acceleration measurements or data. For example, in situations where the resistance R in Equation 1 is nearly constant and near zero, tension data alone may be used. Because acceleration (A) moves positive and negative with each cycle, it may be possible to estimate the value of W as being approximately the midpoint of the T sample, and infer that any variation from the midpoint is due to acceleration A. While such an approach may be used in some situations, using acceleration data may contribute to more accurate measurements.

[0047] In at least one embodiment, the system may include a sensor fusion feature that puts the tension sensor 109 to sleep while the acceleration sensor 113 continues to operate. Such a feature may be implemented, for example, by an MCU interrupt circuit. The acceleration sensor 113 may be configured to wake the tension sensor 109 when a motion event is detected. In this way, power savings can be achieved, as tension sensors often use significantly more power than acceleration sensors.

[0048] Air resistance machines typically do not employ a weight stack, but instead utilize air friction (usually via a fan) to generate resistance load. Equation 1 still applies, but now W is close to zero, and R is the primary contributor to load. Furthermore, the R factor is variable, varying with fan speed. This means that, unlike weight stack machines, air resistance machines do not have metrics corresponding to a nominal weight W available (e.g., "how many pounds did you lift?"), although rep / set metrics are still meaningful. Thus, the devices described herein offer unique advantages because, when placed within the cable tension path of an air resistance machine, they create meaningful data about a user's performance based on tension metrics that can be recorded, collated, assembled, and distributed in conjunction with the systems described herein.

[0049] How to Calculate Tension-Based Work Metrics The definition of work in physics is an applied force F multiplied by the distance d over which the force is applied, i.e., work = F × d. For purposes of this description, work is considered equivalent to effort and is assigned the symbol "E." In a health club environment, effort may be measured (often expressed as "calories burned") on some types of console-based treadmills, elliptical machines, and rowing machines. However, cable resistance machines have traditionally had no corresponding commonly used available work / effort metric beyond traditional personal recording of weights, reps, and sets. According to various embodiments, the tension measuring device 114 described herein enables the generation of such a metric.

[0050] As described herein, the device 114 and supporting system infrastructure 400 may provide a mechanism for creating work metrics that (1) replicate traditional metrics of nominal weight, reps, and sets, and (2) use sensor fusion to add highly accurate metrics of work done, i.e., effort, to further refine estimations of nominal weight and force. In at least one embodiment, all such metrics may be created automatically with minimal (or no) user intervention. Thus, for many users, such as serious athletes, the system offers the potential for more accurate measurement of work done in the gym with minimal record-keeping.

[0051] Professional athletes and their trainers and coaches are often interested in how much work, or mechanical power, an athlete can perform in a short unit of time. For example, professional football players must exert a large amount of effort within a few seconds. Therefore, effort exerted in the gym may not translate to performance on the field, for which mechanical power is likely a good metric. By capturing the time interval required to complete a set of exercises, device 114 can provide a measure of the mechanical power generated on a cable resistance machine.

[0052] In at least one embodiment, the system may use the data generated by device 114 to automatically analyze the positive and negative cycles of acceleration as described above to confirm the number of repetitions and / or sets performed. In at least one embodiment, such determination can be directly achieved using the data collected by acceleration sensor 113. Alternatively, depending on the relative constancy of the dynamic resistance coefficient R of various machines, the system can automatically infer the reps indirectly from the fluctuations of the tension T(t) as described above, providing a situation where the optional acceleration sensor 113 can be omitted. A set is evaluated as starting when the tension first rises from its normal baseline, and ends when (a) the tension returns to the baseline and remains there for at least the timeout period, (b) the user 250 "signs off" the machine via button press, app, or other means, or (c) a new user "signs on" (presents a token) to the server 120. In the latter two cases, the set count can also be considered ended. Defining "inactive" as when the tension of the machine cable remains at the baseline level or, in the sensor fusion device, the accelerometer shows a near-zero acceleration over a long period of time, three timeout periods can be established, where T1 < T2 < T3, T1 represents the inactive period for counting repetitions, T2 represents the period for counting sets, and T3 represents the time when the current user 250 is considered disconnected from the machine.

[0053] In an embodiment with only the tension sensor of device 114, from Equation 1, W can be estimated using time series data as described below, and optionally, this can be rounded to the nominal indication of the nearest weight stack, and the nominal weight of the weight stack assembly can be roughly determined. In this regard, the variation of R can also be estimated to notify the sports club manager (and / or other responsible parties) of a significant change in the cable resistance indicating a potential maintenance problem.

[0054] In sensor fusion embodiments of device 114, a preferred methodology may be to further incorporate a tension baseline to more accurately measure nominal weight and force.

[0055] The simple form of the definition of "work" above assumes a constant force F and a fixed distance d. However, in actual operation, such assumptions may not hold when measuring the work of exercise on a cable resistance strength training exercise machine. For example, a single repetition typically takes 1-3 seconds, during which force and distance may vary. In Equation 1, tension T (adjusted for baseline tension) approximately represents the actual force applied by user 250; however, because this force may vary over the course of a repetition, it may instead be treated as a function of time t, i.e., T(t). Furthermore, it is understood that the distance covered in a rep may vary depending on the length of user 250's arms or legs, as well as whether or not they choose to employ maximum extension of such limbs. By measuring acceleration with acceleration sensor 113, velocity V(t) can be calculated from acceleration A(t) by approximating a classical theoretical formula:

[0056]

number

[0057]

number

[0058] From the calculation of velocity V(t), an accurate effort metric can be calculated, which is theoretically expressed as:

[0059]

number

[0060]

number

[0061]

number

[0062] In the above applications, the absolute value of velocity may be used because velocity is one-dimensional (along the axis of the tension connection cable). The user 250 typically releases the weight gently, so both the upward and downward movement of the weight stack requires user effort. In air resistance machines, negative velocity can instead simply be treated as zero, since the spring-loaded spindle provides the force to unwind the cable, so releasing the fan requires nearly zero effort.

[0063] advantage As noted above, the processed data can be used for real-time applications (such as generating and outputting real-time counts of reps and / or sets) and non-real-time applications (such as generating reports of exercises performed by a user 250 and / or a set of users 250). Reports based on metrics derived from analysis of data provided by the tension pathway can be useful in many situations and can be provided to users 250, medical professionals, trainers, gym owners / managers, maintenance personnel, professional athletes and sports teams, physiologists, etc.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 5, an example of a sample report 500 that may be generated by the system described herein is shown, illustrating the potential benefits to a regular gym user, tracking and reporting statistics on workload performed and providing actionable guidance and motivation.

[0065] An exemplary report 500 illustrates the utility of tension-based metrics such as may be generated using the systems and methods described herein. The exemplary report 500 includes work done data for an individual user's workout involving various cable resistance machines. The report 500 summarizes today's workout results and then provides a comparison to the user's 250 30-day workout average. The report 500 also shows work done comparisons to the user's 250 "cohort group," categorized by age and gender and summarizing anonymous data from other users. The cohort may also be categorized by other criteria, such as weight, height, self-assessed health, etc. From the basic data, secondary metrics may be usefully constructed. For example, in the exemplary report 500, the ratio of lower body work to total work provides guidance for the user's 250 balance between upper body and lower body machine use. On multi-cable machines, such as crossover arm machines, where two cables and two weight stacks are employed, one for each arm, a symmetrical ratio of work done between the right and left arms may also prove useful.

[0066] The exemplary report 500 may also include a comments / suggestions section, applying artificial intelligence / large-scale language models (AI / LLMs) to analyze possible reasons for underperformance and suggest remedial measures and corrective and / or encouraging advice. AI / LLMs are a natural fit because these models can be trained based on the very large amount of tension-based data generated by the device 114. In other embodiments, even greater benefits can be gained by linking metrics of work done in the gym to other data supplied by individual users for medical, scientific, physiological, team sports, and other purposes.

[0067] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the particular layout and content of exemplary report 500 is merely exemplary, and that reports generated by the systems described herein may take any other suitable form and may include other data.

[0068] Auxiliary Field-Installed Devices In at least one embodiment, device 114, as shown in FIG. 3, may be 20 mm to 80 mm in height, but may alternatively be any other suitable size. When device 114 is inserted into the tension path of a cable resistance strength training exercise machine, it can introduce a comparable length of slack into cable 100. For many cable resistance machines, the impact of this slack introduction can be minimal, including, for example, a lat pulldown machine, as shown in FIG. 2, and most air resistance machines.

[0069] However, in some machines, slack in the cable may be detrimental to proper operation. To address this issue, in at least one embodiment, the cable 100 may be re-cut and re-terminated. However, such a procedure may require special tools and may be time consuming. Furthermore, such a procedure is generally irreversible, meaning that temporary demonstration of the device may require replacement of the entire cable.

[0070] Thus, in at least one embodiment, a mechanism for field installation may be provided that removes or reduces cable slack after or during installation of device 114. Referring now to FIG. 6 , there is shown an internal cross-sectional view illustrating a device 300 for removing cable slack that may be used in connection with device 114 shown herein. In at least one embodiment, device 300 (a “loop slack reducer”) may wrap excess cable 100 around a solid core cylinder 302 that may be positioned within housing block 301. In at least one embodiment, cylinder 302 and housing block 301 may both be fabricated from a sturdy material such as polycarbonate or aluminum. In at least one embodiment, cylinder 302 may be integrated into one side of block 301 and have a complementary receiving space on the other side, although other configurations are possible.

[0071] Two holes 304 may allow for collinear channels for the entry and exit of cable 100. A channel 303 may be cut out of block 301 to allow for the passage of multiple loops of cable 100 around cylinder 302.

[0072] In at least one embodiment, block 301 may be cut in half (possibly excluding cylinder 302) along the plane of the cross section shown in Figure 6 to allow for winding of cable 100 without disassembling the cable weight machine. After the appropriate number of loops of cable 100 have been wound, the two halves of block 301 may be reconnected to one another using a fastening device such as screw 305.

[0073] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an assembled view of the loop slack reducer 300 shown in FIG.

[0074] Referring now to FIG. 8, an example of the routing geometry of cable 100 forming a simple loop traversing the interior of loop slack reducer 300 is shown, according to one embodiment.

[0075] The loop slack reducer 300 may provide several advantages, including: The loop slack reducer 300 may remove or reduce slack in the cable in multiples of the circumference of the inner cylinder. The loop slack reducer 300 may maintain the linearity of the cable path. The loop slack reducer 300 can be placed in any convenient location on the cable 100 and does not need to be in close proximity to the device 114. The loop slack reducer 300 can be manufactured in multiple cylinder circumference sizes to suit various situations. The loop slack reducer 300 provides temporary or long-term use without the need to destroy the cable.

[0076] In some cases, cables used in cable weight exercise machines may be constructed from stranded steel, which may have a limited bend radius depending on the cable width. Thus, for cables 3 mm wide or wider, a cylinder 302 diameter of less than 30 mm may not be suitable, meaning that loop slack reducer 300 may best be applied when the slack exceeds 90 mm to 100 mm.

[0077] Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations and features are possible.

[0078] 9, an example of an alternative device 900 for removing slack (a "spiral slack reducer") that is preferred for smaller amounts of slack is shown, according to one embodiment. In at least one embodiment, such a device 900 may be used when, for example, less than 80-90 mm of slack is to be removed.

[0079] As shown, the helical slack reducer 900 may be constructed from a solid cylinder of material, as described in connection with the loop slack reducer 300, with a cutout cavity or groove 901 that provides a substantially helical cable path. The helical slack reducer 900 may be formed, for example, by milling with a ball-end bit slightly larger than the diameter of the cable, with the bit held perpendicular to the cylinder axis. The initial cut is made at one end with the ball end centered on the cylinder axis (to keep the cable entry and exit points centrally collinear), and from there, the bit is raised away from the cylinder axis (but not so far that the cable emerges) to cut a substantially helical shape around and within the cylinder until it reaches a point near a point equidistant from both ends of the cylinder. The cutting process then continues in the same spiral, but lowering the bit in the same way until it reaches the far end, where the ball end is again centered on the axis to maintain collinearity. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the above construction techniques are merely exemplary and that the helical slack reducer 900 can be constructed in other ways and using other methods.

[0080] 10, an example of the shape of cable 100 traversing helical slack reducer 900, according to one embodiment, is shown as a substantially helical configuration with a wider width in the middle section and a narrower width at the two ends. This shape may serve to maximize the minimum bend radius of the cable.

[0081] In at least one embodiment, the helical slack reducer 900 may be installed by wrapping the cable 100 within the cutout cavity 901. Neither end of the cable 100 needs to be removed for installation. Such a configuration may maintain stability in such installations. However, if additional safety of the installation is important, a sleeve (not shown) slightly larger in diameter than the cylinder but substantially the same length may optionally be used to cover the helical slack reducer 900. Such a sleeve may be constructed from metal or any other suitable material. In such a configuration, the cable connector 101 must pass through the sleeve without disassembling the cable, so the inner diameter of the sleeve may be configured to exceed the maximum diameter of the cable connector 101. Optionally, the sleeve may be further secured to the helical slack reducer 900 by a fastener, such as a screw.

[0082] Mapping users to detected machine activity 14, a data flow diagram illustrates a method 1400 for matching data arriving in two streams, including one stream received from a machine transmitting exercise data and a second stream received from a user who may claim occupancy of the machine, according to one embodiment. Method 1400 combines two separate data streams to enable association of a user 250 with an activity that may be automatically detected on a gym machine.

[0083] In step 1402, device 114 captures a stream of data (the "machine data stream") based on activity detected on the cable resistance machine and transmits such data to server 120. In at least one embodiment, the machine data stream may include several packets 1405 representing various time-contiguous (i.e., continuous real-time) batches of data. Such packets 1405 may be defined, for example, to be suitable for forming database records for storage in a data storage device associated with server 120.

[0084] In at least one embodiment, each machine stream data packet 1405 may be defined in any of a variety of ways, such as a summary of one iteration, a summary of a set of iterations, a complete time series of all sensor values for two consecutive reps of a set, and / or any other time-sequential aggregation. For database-hosted matching of streams of packets 1405, it may be preferable for each packet 1405 to be associated with a particular user. Thus, in at least one embodiment, machine stream packets 1405 may be configured to represent a summary of a set, a time series of sensor data for a set, or other set-related packet, since each set may have a maximum period over which it can reasonably be expected to be associated with only one user.

[0085] In step 1401, one or more devices (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, camera, tablet, etc.) may capture user data representing user interactions with one or more exercise machines. Such user data may include, for example, user identification and / or exercise type identification. Such user data may be provided in the form of a data stream, referred to as a "user data stream," which may include several database records, referred to as liens 1404, each of which may claim a particular user 250's current occupancy of a particular machine. Identification of the particular user 250 associated with each lien 1404 may be achieved via any suitable means, such as any of the following: Token reader 122, Button pad 117, Smartphone apps, Touchscreen, QR, and / or barcode, ID card scanner, NFC and / or other tokens, ·keyboard, Biometrics, such as facial, fingerprint, and / or retinal identification; Camera-based body movement tracking, and / or Other user identification and / or exercise tracking methods and devices.

[0086] In at least one embodiment, a user 250 who is already registered in the smartphone app can scan the QR code containing both the machine and the exercise type in one go, and the app adds the user ID and then immediately transmits data items representing the machine, user, and exercise type to be encoded into the user data stream.

[0087] 13, an example of a configuration in which QR code-based user authentication and exercise selection data may be collected and / or generated is shown, according to one embodiment. A user 250 scans one of two QR codes 1301 mounted on an exercise machine, such as a "Pec Fly" machine that supports two chest exercises, one forward-facing and one backward-facing. In at least one embodiment, each QR code 1301 may contain the same machine ID, but different exercise type IDs.

[0088] Referring again to FIG. 14, in at least one embodiment, step 1403 is performed to match liens 1404 with data packets 1405 by assigning each packet 1405 in the machine data stream to a user ID and exercise ID associated with the lien 1404.

[0089] In step 1406, a determination may be made as to whether a match was successfully determined. If a match was found, step 1407 may be performed and the matched data is sent to Advice and Report Process 1407 for report generation and further tracking.

[0090] In at least one embodiment, if packet 1405 does not have a user ID assigned to it, then in step 1408, packet 1405 may be designated as orphaned and may be archived or discarded. Orphaned packets may not support individualized user feedback. However, orphaned packets may be useful for general research purposes or machine usage analysis.

[0091] In at least one embodiment, if a packet is assigned a user ID but not an exercise ID, it may be considered a partial match. Such a partial match may support individualized user feedback on reps, sets, and work metrics, but may not necessarily support muscle group analysis unless there is only one type of exercise possible on the machine.

[0092] Any suitable means may be used to assign the exercise type. For example, in at least one embodiment, the user 250 may select the exercise type via any suitable input mechanism, such as via the button pad 117, within a smartphone app, by QR code, etc. In at least one embodiment, the exercise machine may support only a limited number of exercises. A validity check of the exercise type may be used to avoid invalid data.

[0093] In at least one embodiment, machine matching may be achieved by pre-configuring the device 114 with the device that performs user and exercise identification. To establish machine matching to the user 250, for example, any one of the following techniques may be used: The device 114 may transmit a unique ID code to facilitate a database lookup to determine which machine the device 114 is installed on. Camera-based motion trackers can identify machines by their location within the gym. The smartphone app may transmit the user ID and exercise selection.

[0094] In at least one embodiment, timed matching may be performed. In at least one embodiment, liens 1404 may be generated and stored, each claiming current occupancy of a particular machine for a particular user 250. A timeout interval of optional length may be established, after which the lien 1404 automatically expires. Optionally, this timeout may be extended by completing a new set (e.g., in scenarios where short breaks may be allowed during exercise).

[0095] Alternatively, the timeout period may be extended upon detecting, for example, that user 250 continues to occupy the machine, for example, by a pressure sensor, light beam detector, video camera, etc. embedded in the machine's seat.

[0096] In at least one embodiment, a retroactive timeout may be established on the machine's past usage to determine whether an orphaned packet should be associated with the current user 250 .

[0097] In this manner, any suitable method based on temporal proximity between packets 1405 and machine occupancy detection (represented as lien 1404) may be used in the matching process 1403. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other mechanisms may be used for such matching, depending on evolving social and behavioral norms and user adaptation to technological changes in automated data capture.

[0098] In at least one embodiment, event timestamps may be employed in the matching step 1403. A precision time protocol, such as NTP (Network Time Protocol), may be used to ensure the validity of and synchronization with the timestamps of other data streams, including the device 114 and all other network devices involved in data capture. In at least one embodiment, global unique identifiers (UUIDs) of all components (e.g., including the device 114, machine, user 250, packet 1405, lien 1404, exercise, etc.) may be made readily available to ensure validity of identification, either as object-specific UUIDs or as UUIDs assigned within an up-to-date database.

[0099] Power Savings In many exercise environments, power conservation can be an important consideration because many exercise machines do not have access to AC power outlets. Therefore, in at least one embodiment, the device 114 may be configured to minimize power usage. For example, the tension sensor 109 may be configured to enter a dormant mode (e.g., a "sleep" mode) to conserve power. The acceleration sensor 113 may be configured to be interrupt-enabled and to wake the tension sensor 109 when the acceleration sensor 113 detects movement. Once the tension sensor 109 is woken up, the system may be configured to distinguish between (1) an actual set of repetitions initiated by the user 250 and (2) another event that does not correspond to a set of repetitions, typically a shorter, more transient acceleration. When an interrupt cycle is first initiated, it may be difficult to determine whether the detected tension / movement is a set or a separate event. Therefore, the system may initially be configured to collect data as if it were a set. However, if the tension sensor 109 does not continue to detect significant sustained tension after a short period, the system may assume that another, more transient event has occurred. At this point, changes to the cable tension path may have been made, so the data already collected may be reused to recalibrate the baseline tension instead.

[0100] For example, user 250 may remove a 2 pound handle and reattach a 10 pound handle instead. Such an action may cause a momentary spike in tension, which may be detected by tension sensor 109. Assume user 250 attempts to lift a 30 pound weight on the other end of the cable. While the baseline weight of the previous set was 2 pounds, and thus the user was lifting a net weight of 28 pounds, the new net weight would instead be 20 pounds, resulting in a baseline of 10 pounds. Thus, during a period of rest after either a detected set or transient event, the system may recalibrate the baseline tension with the new data, initialize the set data, and discard the data for the transient event.

[0101] The present apparatus and method have been described in particular detail with respect to possible embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present apparatus and method may be practiced in other embodiments. First, the specific designations of components, terminology capitalization, attributes, data structures, or any other programming or structural aspects are not required or important, and mechanisms and / or features may have different names, formats, or protocols. Furthermore, an apparatus may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software, entirely with hardware elements, or entirely with software elements. Additionally, the specific division of functionality among various components described herein is merely exemplary and not required. Functions performed by a single component may instead be performed by multiple components, and functions performed by multiple components may instead be performed by a single component.

[0102] References herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in at least one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0103] Various embodiments may include any number of apparatuses, devices, components, and / or methods for performing the above techniques, either alone or in any combination. Another embodiment includes a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and computer program code encoded on the medium for causing a processor within a computing device or other electronic device to perform the above techniques.

[0104] Some portions of the above are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computing device memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps (instructions) leading to a desired result. The steps may involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It is convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. Further, it is convenient at times to refer to particular arrangements of steps requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities as modules or code devices, without loss of generality.

[0105] It should be borne in mind, however, that all these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. As will become apparent from the following description, unless otherwise indicated, throughout the description, descriptions utilizing terms such as "processing" or "computing" or "calculating" or "displaying" or "determining" will be understood to refer to operations and processes of a computer system or similar electronic computing module and / or device that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities in a computer system memory or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

[0106] Certain aspects include the process steps and instructions described herein in the form of an algorithm. It should be noted that the process steps and instructions may be embodied in software, firmware, and / or hardware, and if embodied in software, may be downloaded to reside on and be operated from a variety of platforms for use by a variety of operating systems.

[0107] This specification also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored on the computing device. Such a computer program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, a solid-state drive, a magnetic or optical card, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, each coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, the computing devices referred to herein may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs to increase computing power.

[0108] The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computing device, virtualization system, or other apparatus. Moreover, various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent from the description provided herein. Additionally, the present apparatus and methods are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be understood that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings described herein, and that the above references to specific languages are provided for purposes of enablement and best mode disclosure.

[0109] Accordingly, various embodiments include software, hardware, and / or other elements for controlling a computer system, computing device, or other electronic device, or any combination or plurality thereof. Such electronic devices may include, for example, a processor, input devices (such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, trackpad, joystick, trackball, microphone, and / or any combination thereof), output devices (such as a screen, speakers, etc.), memory, long-term storage (such as magnetic storage, optical storage, etc.), and / or network connectivity, in accordance with techniques well known in the art. Such electronic devices may be portable or non-portable. Examples of electronic devices that may be used to implement the above-described apparatus and methods include mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smartphones, kiosks, server computers, enterprise computing devices, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, consumer electronic devices, etc. The electronic device may use any operating system, such as, but not limited to, Linux, Microsoft Windows available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, MacOS available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California, iOS available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California, Android available from Google, Inc. of Mountain View, California, and / or any other operating system that may be adapted for use with the device.

[0110] While only a limited number of embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given the benefit of the above description, other embodiments may be devised. Additionally, it should be noted that the language used herein has been chosen primarily for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been chosen to indicate or limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, not limiting in scope.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for tracking user activity of an exercise machine, comprising: a tension sensor positioned within a tension connection path of a cable resistance exercise machine, the tension sensor adapted to automatically measure tension along the tension connection path and further adapted to automatically output an electrical signal representative of the measured tension; at least one connector, each connector adapted to connect the tension sensor to at least one component along the tension connection path of the cable resistance exercise machine; and a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the tension sensor, the logic circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal representative of the measured tension and to automatically generate, from the electrical signal, at least one value for at least one metric associated with exercise performed by the user on the cable resistance exercise machine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one metric includes at least a count of the number of exercise repetitions performed by the user on the cable resistance exercise machine within a period of time.

3. The at least one metric is: a measure of peak velocity of movement of a resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the average velocity of movement of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; a measure of the peak acceleration of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the average acceleration of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the resistance load displaced by the user while performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the total work performed by the user while performing at least one exercise; and and a measure of the total calories burned by the user while performing at least one exercise.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component along the tension connection path comprises a cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a slack removal device coupled to the tension sensor and adapted to reduce or remove slack from the cable.

6. the slack removal device: A housing block; 6. The apparatus of claim 5, comprising: a cylindrical core positioned within the housing block, the housing block forming a substantially circular channel surrounding the cylindrical core adapted to receive excess cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the slack elimination device comprises a cavity for guiding the cable along a substantially helical path.

8. The device of claim 4 , wherein the cable supports a weight and is adapted to lift the weight in response to an exercise performed by the user.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tension sensor, the at least one connector, and the logic circuit are housed in an assembly adapted to be attached to the exercise machine.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the assembly is removable.

11. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor adapted to automatically measure acceleration along the tension connection path and further adapted to automatically output an electrical signal representative of the measured acceleration.

12. the tension sensor is configured to be in a rest state; The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to activate the tension sensor from a resting state in response to detecting acceleration along the tension connection path.

13. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a signal amplifier adapted to receive and amplify the electrical signal representative of the measured acceleration.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an output device communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and adapted to output the generated value for the at least one metric.

15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the output device is adapted to output the generated values for the at least one metric in real time while the user is performing the exercise repetitions on the cable resistance exercise machine.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable resistance exercise machine comprises a strength training exercise machine.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a signal amplifier adapted to receive and amplify the electrical signal representative of the measured tension.

18. an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) adapted to receive the electrical signal representative of the measured tension and convert the electrical signal into a digital signal; a logic circuit adapted to receive the digital signal and convert the digital signal into digital tension time series data; The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

19. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a user identification component communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and adapted to identify the user performing the exercise repetitions.

20. the user identification component comprises: an ID token reader; A keypad and A biometric scanner; Smartphone apps and Smartwatch app and 20. The device of claim 19, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of: an NFC reader.

21. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is further adapted to map the digital tension time-series data to the identified user.

22. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is further adapted to map the digital tension time series data to the identified user in substantially real time as the user completes repetitions of the exercise.

23. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is further adapted to perform offline mapping of the digital tension time-series data to the identified users.

24. a storage device communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and adapted to store the digital tension time-series data; 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

25. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a wireless radio transceiver communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and adapted to transmit the digital tension time-series data to a server for further processing.

26. a server adapted to receive the digital tension time-series data from the wireless radio transceiver, and further adapted to process the received data and generate a report from the data; an output device communicatively coupled to the server and adapted to output the generated report; a storage device communicatively coupled to the server and adapted to store the generated report; 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

27. 1. A method for tracking user activity of an exercise machine, comprising: configuring a tension sensor positioned within a tension connection path of a cable resistance exercise machine to automatically measure tension along said tension connection path and automatically output an electrical signal representative of said measured tension; connecting the tension sensor to at least one component along the tension connection path of the cable resistance exercise machine; In logic circuits, automatically receiving the electrical signal from the tension sensor; and automatically generating from the electrical signal at least one value for at least one metric associated with exercise performed by the user on the cable resistance exercise machine.

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one metric includes at least a count of the number of exercise repetitions performed by the user on the cable resistance exercise machine within a period of time.

29. The at least one metric is: a measure of peak velocity of movement of a resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the average velocity of movement of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; a measure of the peak acceleration of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the average acceleration of the resistance load while the user is performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the resistance load displaced by the user while performing at least one exercise; and a measure of the total work performed by the user while performing at least one exercise; and and a measure of the total calories burned by the user while performing at least one exercise.

30. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one component along the tension connection path comprises a cable.

31. coupling a slack elimination device to the tension sensor, the slack elimination device adapted to reduce or remove slack from the cable; 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

32. the slack removal device: A housing block; 32. The method of claim 31 , comprising: a cylindrical core positioned within the housing block, the housing block forming a substantially circular channel surrounding the cylindrical core adapted to receive excess cable.

33. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the slack elimination device comprises a cavity for guiding the cable along a substantially helical path.

34. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the cable supports a weight and is adapted to lift the weight in response to an exercise performed by the user.

35. the tension sensor, the at least one connector, and the logic circuit are housed in an assembly; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising attaching the assembly to the exercise machine.

36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the assembly is removable.

37. configuring an acceleration sensor to automatically measure acceleration along the tension connection path and automatically output an electrical signal representative of the measured acceleration; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

38. configuring the tension sensor to be in a resting state; automatically activating the tension sensor from a dormant state in response to detecting acceleration along the tension connection path; 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

39. automatically receiving and amplifying the electrical signal representative of the measured acceleration in a signal amplifier; 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

40. automatically outputting the generated value for the at least one metric at an output device; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

41. automatically outputting, at the output device, the generated values for the at least one metric in real time while the user is performing the exercise repetitions on the cable resistance exercise machine; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

42. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cable resistance exercise machine comprises a strength training exercise machine.

43. automatically receiving and amplifying the electrical signal representative of the measured tension in a signal amplifier; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

44. In an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), automatically receiving the electrical signal representative of the measured tension; automatically converting the electrical signal to a digital signal; In logic circuits, automatically receiving the digital signal; automatically converting the digital signal into digital tension time series data; 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

45. automatically identifying the user performing the exercise repetitions in a user identification component; 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

46. the user identification component comprises: an ID token reader; A keypad and A biometric scanner; Smartphone apps and Smartwatch app and and an NFC reader.

47. automatically mapping the digital tension time series data to the identified user; 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

48. automatically mapping the digital tension time series data to the identified user in substantially real time as the user completes repetitions of the exercise; 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

49. automatically performing offline mapping of the digital tension time series data to the identified users; 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

50. automatically storing the digital tension time series data in a storage device; 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

51. automatically transmitting the digital tension time series data to a server for further processing in a wireless radio transceiver; 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

52. On the server: automatically receiving the digital tension time-series data from the wireless radio transceiver; automatically processing the received data; automatically generating a report from said data; automatically outputting the generated report at an output device; automatically storing the generated report in a storage device; 52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

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