Method and system for dynamic music tempo tracking based on exercise equipment pace

Abstract

A method ( 10 ) and system ( 50 or 200 ) for music selection based on pace can include tracking ( 12 ) a pace as used on an exercise equipment device ( 61 ), receiving ( 14 ) a pace value representative of the pace via a short range wireless transmission at an audio output device ( 51 ), searching ( 16 ) a media library within the audio output device for a media file with a pace closest to the pace value received, and presenting( 18 ) a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received. The method can further optionally include t automatically playing ( 20 ) the media file if the pace closest to the pace value received is an exact match and adjusting ( 22 ) to the pace value the pace of a song when the song is within a user settable range or percentage of the pace value.

1 . A method of music selection based on pace, comprising the steps of:
 tracking a pace as used on an exercise equipment device;   receiving a pace value representative of the pace via a short range wireless transmission at an audio output device;   searching a media library within a memory on the audio output device for a media file with a pace closest to the pace value received; and   presenting a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of automatically playing the media file if the pace closest to the pace value received is an exact match. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of adjusting to the pace value the pace of a song serving as the media file having the pace closest to the pace value when the song is within a user settable range or percentage of the pace value received or alternatively adjusting a degree of difficulty level on the exercise equipment device to enable a user to easily match the pace value of the song serving as the media file. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises the step of playing a current song playing on the audio output device when a song is not found within the user settable range or percentage of the pace value received. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of playing the media file with the closest pace to the pace value received with an unaltered pace. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of logging changes in pace and creating an exercise playlist substantially matching the changes in pace logged and enabling a user to select songs from the exercise playlist. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving the pace value representative of the pace via the short range wireless transmission when the pace value changes and further comprises receiving an exercise equipment identifier to enable maintenance of a playlist for each piece of equipment the user uses. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of capturing an image to correlate a piece of exercise equipment with a given user's playlist. 
     
     
         9 . A system of music selection based on pace, comprising:
 a portable audio output device;   a short range wireless transceiver coupled to the portable audio output device; and   a processor coupled to the short range wireless wireless transceiver and the portable audio output device, wherein the processor is programmed to:
 track a pace as used on exercise equipment; 
 receive a pace value representative of the pace via the short range wireless transceiver; 
 search a music library within a memory on the portable audio output device for a media file having a pace closest to the pace value received; and 
 play a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to automatically play the media file if the pace closest to the pace value received is an exact match. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to adjust to the pace value the pace of a song serving as the media file having the pace closest to the pace value when the song is within a user settable range or percentage of the pace value received. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmed to play a current song playing on the audio output device when a song is not found within the user settable range or percentage of the pace value received. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to play the media file with the closest pace to the pace value received with an unaltered pace. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to log changes in pace and create an exercise playlist substantially matching the changes in pace logged and enable a user to select songs from the exercise playlist. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a song pace is kept in a song's metadata. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the pace value representative of the pace via the short range wireless transmission occurs when the pace value changes and the processor is further programmed to receive an exercise equipment identifier to enable maintenance of a playlist for each piece of equipment the user uses. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to capture an image to correlate a piece of exercise equipment with a given user's playlist. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable audio output device is a cellular phone, an MP3 player, a smart phone, or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         19 . A portable wireless communication unit having a system of music selection based on a pace of an exercise equipment device, comprising:
 a short range wireless transceiver coupled to portable wireless communication unit; and   a processor coupled to the short range wireless transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to:
 track a pace as used on the exercise equipment device, wherein the exercise equipment device further has an identifier; 
 receive a pace value representative of a pace currently used on the exercise equipment device and the exercise equipment identifier via the short range wireless transceiver; 
 search a music library within a memory on the portable audio output device for a media file having a pace closest to the pace value received; and 
 play a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received. 
   
     
     
         20 . The portable communication unit of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 automatically play the media file if the pace closest to the pace value received is an exact match;   adjust to the pace value the pace of a song serving as the media file having the pace closest to the pace value when the song is within a user settable range or percentage of the pace value received or play the media file with the closest pace to the pace value received with an unaltered pace; and   play a current song playing on the audio output device when a song is not found within the user settable range or percentage of the pace value received.   
     
     
         21 . A system of music selection based on a pace of an exercise equipment device, comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a audio output device, wherein the processor is programmed to:
 receive information correlated to a particular user's music library on the audio output device; 
 track a pace as used on the exercise equipment device; 
 send a pace value representative of a pace currently used on the exercise equipment device to the audio output device; 
 search a music library within a memory on the portable audio output device for a media file having a pace closest to the pace value received; and 
 play a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received.