Cardio-fitness station with virtual-reality capability

Abstract

In one embodiment, a stationary exercise station is provided. The stationary exercise station includes a computer which may run a computer program. The computer program simulates the motion of a first virtual bicycle and a second virtual bicycle. The first virtual bicycle and the second virtual bicycle riding through a predetermined landscape. The computer program simulates moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also include a video monitor in communication with the computer. The video monitor displays the moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also includes steerable handlebars, rotatable pedals, a force resisting pedal rotation, and a movable gear-shifting member. The motion of the virtual bicycle is determined by the steering of the steerable handlebars, rotation of the rotatable pedals, and motion of the moveable gear-shifting member. The force resisting pedal rotation is proportional to the slope experienced by the virtual bicycle riding through the predetermined landscape.

1 . A method of a network-enabled fitness program, comprising:
 storing a first set of data associated with a user provided via an exercise equipment;   transmitting a second set of data to the first exercise equipment over a network;   wherein the second set of data comprises software upgrades for the exercise equipment.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the first and second sets of data are received over a network comprising one or more of, the Internet or a TV cable. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving a request, providing the first set of data to the user; wherein, the request is generated by the user via the exercise equipment or a second exercise equipment; wherein the second exercise equipment is physically located anywhere in the world. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, assigning a unique identifier to the user. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the unique identifier is usable by the user to retrieve the first set of data associated with the user via the request. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the request is generated by another user via another exercise equipment; wherein the another exercise equipment is physically located anywhere in the world. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of data comprises, one or more of, user profile information of the user and fitness information associated with the user. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fitness information comprises, statistical data, exercise data, performance of the user exercising in a particular virtual environment, and historical performance data. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, the request, further comprises, a request from another user to participate in an interactive exercise session with the user. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, providing the another user with a virtual environment that is same as a virtual environment in which the user is exercising. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the first and second sets of data are stored and managed by a server having a physical location that is remote from the exercise equipment. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the server is wirelessly coupled to the first exercise equipment. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the Internet connection is established via a wireless connection. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, transmitting one or more of, audio data, software upgrades, new virtual environments, and fitness data to the first exercise equipment via the network. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, receiving, one or more of, audio data, software upgrades, new virtual environments, and fitness data via the network. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, the audio data comprises music files or audible instructions. 
   
   
       17 . A method of a network-enabled fitness program, comprising:
 receiving a first set of data provided by an exercise equipment;   storing the first set of data associated with the user;   transmitting a second set of data to the exercise equipment over a network;   
     wherein the second set of data comprises virtual exercise environments; and
 wherein, the first and second sets of data are stored and managed by a server that is physically remote from a location of the exercise equipment. 
 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the exercise equipment and the server are wirelessly coupled. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second set of data further comprises, fitness information comprising, statistical data, exercise data, performance of the user in a particular virtual environment, and historical performance data. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, assigning a unique identifier to the user. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the unique identifier is usable by the user to retrieve the fitness information associated with the user. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an exercise equipment comprising movable parts;   a display unit coupled to the exercise equipment;   a processing unit able to execute one or more instruction sets embodied on a machine readable medium, the one or more instruction sets causing the processing unit to, when in operation:   render a simulated exercise environment to be displayed on the display unit; and   simulate movement of a virtual representation in the simulated exercise environment based on movement of movable parts of the exercise equipment;   wherein, the processing unit is able to receive data to update the one or more instruction sets.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit is communicatively coupled to a server. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein, the data is received from the server via a network. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein, the server is located a location that is physically remote from the exercise equipment. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein, the server is wirelessly coupled to the processing unit. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit is coupled to the display unit. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the exercise equipment comprises one or more of, a treadmill, a rowing machine, a skier, and a stair climber. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the exercise equipment, comprises, a bike. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein, the movable parts comprise, a handlebar and a set of pedals. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising, a motion resistance module coupled to one or more of the set of pedals to control a resistant force to movement of the set of pedals. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising, a gear-shifting unit coupled to the exercise equipment, wherein, the gear-shifting unit is operable to adjust the value of the parameter. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein, the motion is simulated based on detected steering motion of the handlebar, detected motion of the set of pedals, and the value of the parameter. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein, the one or more instruction sets causes the processing unit to adjust the resistant force to movement of the set of pedals based on the parameter or characteristics of the simulated exercise environment. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein, new simulated exercise environments are received over the network. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein, fitness information are received over the network. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein, the fitness information is accessible with a unique identifier associated with the exercise data is submitted. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein, the fitness information comprises, statistical data, exercise data, performance of the user in a particular virtual environment, and historical performance data. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein, audio data is received over the network; wherein, the audio data comprises one or more of, music data and audible instructions. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the server hosts and manages, software upgrades, a plurality of new simulated exercise environments, audio data, and fitness information associated with a plurality of users. 
   
   
       41 . A method of a revenue model, comprising:
 in response to receiving a request for a simulated exercise route of a plurality of simulated exercise routes; wherein the request is generated from an exercise equipment over a network;   transmitting the simulated exercise route to the exercise equipment; and   assessing a fee.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising, managing the plurality of simulated exercise routes on a server. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein, at least a portion of the fee is provided to a developer of one or more of the plurality of simulated exercise routes. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein, at least a portion of the fee is provided to a maintainer of the server. 
   
   
       45 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an first exercise equipment comprising a set of movable part;   a display unit coupled to the first exercise equipment;   a processing unit able to execute one or more instruction sets embodied on a machine readable medium, the one or more instruction sets causing the processing unit to, when in operation:   simulate movement of a first virtual body in a simulated exercise environment based on movement of the set of movable parts of the first exercise equipment;   simulate movement of a second virtual body in the simulated exercise environment; wherein, the movement of the second virtual body is simulated based on a set of exercise data recorded from a previous exercise session;   render visible display of the simulated exercise environment on the display unit.   
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the movement of the second virtual body is further simulated based on movement of a set of movable parts of a second exercise equipment;
 wherein, the first and second exercise equipments are coupled over a wired or wireless network.   
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein, the visible display of the simulated exercise environment comprises a visible representation of at least a portion of the second virtual body. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein, the visible display of the simulated exercise environment is rendered from the perspective of the first virtual body. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein, the visible display of the simulated exercise environment comprises a visible representation of at least a portion of the first virtual body. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein, the visible representation of the at least a portion of the first virtual body comprises a set of handlebars. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein, the visible display of the simulated exercise environment comprises a visible representation of a third virtual body. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the processing unit is communicatively coupled to a server. 
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the exercise data is retrieved from a storage device. 
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein, the exercise data is received from the server via the network. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein, the server is located at a location that is physically remote from the first exercise equipment. 
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the first exercise equipment comprises one or more of, a treadmill, a rowing machine, a skier, and a stair climber. 
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the first exercise equipment, comprises, a bike. 
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein, the movable parts comprise, a handlebar and a set of pedals. 
   
   
       59 . A method for exercising in an interactive virtual environment, comprising:
 generating a visible representation of a virtual exercise environment for a first user of a first exercise equipment;   in response to receiving a request to participate in an interactive exercising session, simulating a motion of a competitive entity in the virtual exercise environment;   simulating the motion of the competitive entity based on a set of exercise data recorded from a previous exercise session of the first user;   generating a visible representation of the competitive entity against which the first user races in the virtual exercise environment; and   updating the visible representation of the virtual exercise environment based on motion of the first user on the first exercise equipment.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising, further simulating the motion of the competitive entity based on real-time movement of a set of movable parts of a second exercise equipment; wherein the visible representation of the competitive entity is a representation of a second user of the second exercise equipment. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein, the second user and the second exercise equipment are physically located anywhere in the world. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the first and second exercise equipments are coupled over a wired or wireless network. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising, rendering the visible representation of the simulated exercise environment from the perspective of the first user on a display coupled to the first exercise equipment. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising, rendering the visible representation of the simulated exercise environment from the perspective of the second user on a display coupled to the second exercise equipment. 
   
   
       65 . A method for providing virtual coaching, comprising:
 identifying a current set of exercise conditions of a user exercising in a current exercising session; and   providing a set of exercise-related advice to the user based on the current set of exercise conditions;   wherein, the set of exercise-related advice comprises a pathway suggestion.   
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising, retrieving a set of exercise preferences associated with the user. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising, identifying a historical set of exercise conditions associated with a previous exercising session of the user. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising, providing the set of exercise-related advice based on the historical set of exercise conditions. 
   
   
       69 . The method of claim  75 , wherein, the set of exercise-related advice further comprises, a set of coaching instructions based on a predetermined fitness plan. 
   
   
       70 . The method of claim  75 , wherein, the exercise conditions comprises, one or more of, cadence, gear, and handle bar position. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein, the exercise conditions further comprise performance of the user. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein, the exercise conditions further comprise, biometric data. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein, the biometric data comprises heart-rate data.