Exercise Machine Lock Coordination for Social Distancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The need to maintain a predetermined distance from other users while exercising in a health center, especially due to infectious diseases and social distancing requirements, is not adequately addressed by existing exercise equipment management systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for managing exercise machines that includes setting a second exercise machine within a predetermined distance from a first exercise machine in a lock mode when the first machine enters an exercise mode, and resetting modes based on the status of peripheral machines, ensuring users maintain distance and preventing overcrowding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple exercise machines are made available to users, then productivity and service quality improve, but the risk of overcrowding and infectious disease transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidinfectious disease transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between users and exercise machines, managing machine modes (standby, exercise, lock) and coordinating user access. The server receives notifications from exercise machines about mode changes and sends control notifications to appropriate machines, ensuring social distancing is maintained while allowing multiple machines to be used productively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where exercise machines notify the server about mode changes (e.g., transitioning to exercise mode), and the server responds by controlling other machines' modes. This feedback mechanism ensures real-time coordination to prevent overcrowding while maintaining high service quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If exercise machines are locked to maintain distance, then safety improves, but device availability and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The exercise machines dynamically change modes (standby, exercise, lock) based on real-time conditions and server control. Machines transition between states automatically, providing safety when needed while maintaining availability when safe, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If exercise machines operate independently, then ease of operation improves, but overcrowding and uneven usage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent operationVSAvoidusage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The server provides universal control functionality across multiple exercise machines, managing modes and coordination centrally. This allows each machine to remain simple and easy to operate individually while the server ensures overall efficient and balanced usage through centralized coordination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12485316B2Exercise equipment management method and device thereof

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 DRAX INC

AI summary

Provided are an exercise management method and server thereof. The exercise management method includes providing a notification that an exercise mode is set with respect to a first exercise machine from among a plurality of exercise machines and setting a second exercise machine arranged within a predetermined distance from the first exercise machine from among the plurality of exercise machines in a lock mode.