User interface and methods of using in exercise equipment

Abstract

An application programmable interface (API) configured to present a selection of video games having interactive gaming content responsive to a variety of physical motion of the exercise equipment that is powered by the equipment user and designed to encourage ongoing participation by the user in various physical activity scenarios. The API is configured to merge exercise equipment with video gaming that is interoperatively compatible across multiple exerciser hardware configurations, across multiple gaming system equipment configurations, and across independent display monitors. Gaming content is designed to interactively encourage continued and varying exercising by associating the motions of the exercise equipment with changes in audio visual content presented on the monitor or by other gaming system configurations.

1 . A computer readable medium having executable instructions to for a method to play an interactive game presentable on a display and associated with an exercise device operated by a user, the method comprising:
 installing an application programmable interface (API) capable of presenting gaming content of the interactive game modifiable by the conveyed motion generated by the user operating the exercise device, the API configured for
 receiving signals proportional to the conveyed motion; 
 associating the signals to at least one symbolic representation of the interactive game; 
 processing the signals in proportion to parameters defined by the gaming content; and 
 changing the status of the symbolic representation within the interactive game in proportion to the signal processing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein receiving signals proportional to the conveyed motion includes motion associated with translation, rotation, sliding, stepping, grasping, lifting, squeezing, pulling, stretching, pushing, and jumping. 
     
     
         3 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the API includes at least one of a physics interface, an intensity interface, a device equivalence interface, a treadmill device interface, a bicycle device interface, and a generic device interface interposed between an application program presenting the gaming content and the exercise device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the device equivalence interface allows communication between gaming applications and the exercise device. 
     
     
         5 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein associating the signals to at least one symbolic representation includes a mechanical depiction, a life form depiction, and a graphic icon. 
     
     
         6 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical depiction includes automobiles, ships, airplanes, spacecraft, submarines, and sporting equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the sporting equipment includes baseball, football, hunting, and fencing. 
     
     
         8 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the life form depiction includes animal, vegetable, human, microbial, and imaginary. 
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the graphic icon depiction includes arcade game symbols. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein processing the signals in proportion to parameters defined by the gaming content includes self-competitive and inter-personal competitive games. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein changing the status of the symbolic representation includes changing at least one of the appearance and location of the mechanical depiction, the life form depiction, and the graphic icon within the gaming content of the interactive game. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the API is capable of reading a computer readable medium having code for an interactive exercise program. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the API is configurable to present a video overlay, the video overlay containing at least one of a current heart rate, current exercise intensity, upcoming changes, time and distance. 
     
     
         14 . A method for using an user interactive exercise system in signal communication with a computer, the method comprising:
 installing an application programming interface (API) in communication with an exercise apparatus and a gaming application executable on the computer;   operating the exercise apparatus;   capturing motion-related data derived from the exercise apparatus;   transmitting the motion-related data to a device capable of displaying a gaming scenario having a symbolic representation; and   manipulating the graphic representation in proportion to the captured motion-related data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein capturing motion-related data includes motion associated with translation, rotation, sliding, stepping, grasping, lifting, squeezing, pulling, stretching, pushing, and jumping. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein installing the API includes at least one of a physics interface, an intensity interface, a device equivalence interface, a treadmill device interface, a bicycle device interface, and a generic device interface interposed between an application program presenting the gaming content and the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the device equivalence interface allows communication between gaming applications and the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the symbolic representation includes a mechanical depiction, a life form depiction, and a graphic icon depiction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mechanical depiction includes automobiles, ships, airplanes, spacecraft, submarines, and sports equipment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the life form depiction includes animal, vegetable, human, microbial, and imaginary. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the graphic icon depiction includes arcade game symbols. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein manipulating the graphic representation includes changing the status of the symbolic representation includes changing at least one of the appearance and location of the mechanical depiction, the life form depiction, and the graphic icon within the gaming scenario. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein changing the appearance and location includes within the gaming scenario having a self-competitive content. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein changing the appearance and location includes within the gaming scenario having an interpersonal-competitive content.