Exercise Apparatus User Engagement Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exercise apparatuses with motor-driven operating members, such as treadmills and stairclimbers, can generate falsified exercise use data, as users can operate the machines without actual engagement, leading to invalidation of exercise habits for insurance purposes.
Innovation Solution
An exercise apparatus with an exercise use verification function, incorporating a motor, a sensor to detect user engagement, and a controller to differentiate between validated and non-validated exercise use data, ensuring accurate reporting of user exercise habits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If exercise apparatus uses motor-driven operating members to automate operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of exercise use data deteriorates due to potential falsification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices that detect actual user engagement with the exercise apparatus. These sensors act as mediators between the motor-driven operating member and the controller, providing objective verification that a user is actually using the equipment. The sensor data serves as intermediary evidence to validate or reject exercise use records, preventing falsification while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensor data about user engagement is continuously monitored and fed back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to determine whether to validate or reject exercise use records. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that only genuinely used exercise sessions are recorded, maintaining data reliability while allowing automated operation.
2Reliability
If exercise apparatus implements user engagement verification, then reliability of exercise use data is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the controller to perform multiple functions: it not only controls the motor-driven operating member but also processes sensor data, validates exercise use records, and manages data reporting. By making the controller multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate dedicated verification hardware, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise apparatus performs self-verification through integrated sensors and controller logic that automatically detect user engagement and validate exercise records without external intervention. The system serves itself by incorporating verification capabilities into its existing control architecture, avoiding the need for separate complex verification systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise apparatus includes a motor, an operating member driven by the motor, a sensor operable to detect engagement of a user with the operating member, and a controller in communication with the operating member and the sensor. The controller is configured to generate exercise use data when the operating member is driven by the motor. A communication interface is in communication with the controller. In response to the controller determining that the user is engaged with the operating member, the controller is configured to report the exercise use data to the communication interface. In response to the controller determining that the user is not engaged with the operating member, the controller is configured to stop reporting the exercise use data to the communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate the reported exercise use data to a third party.