Fitness equipment subscription system

Abstract

A method and apparatus receive an identification of a user at a fitness equipment unit, retrieve a current subscription plan for the user based upon the identification and make features for the fitness equipment unit in the current subscription plan of the user available for use by the user on the fitness equipment unit.

1 . A fitness equipment subscription system comprising:
 a fitness equipment unit operable in one a base mode with one or more selectable optional supplemental features;   one or more inputs associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a user using the fitness equipment unit; and   a controller in communication with the input and the fitness equipment unit, wherein the controller is configured to make available the one or more optional features based upon the identity of the user and a subscription plan associated with the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subscription plan is purchased by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness pivot unit includes a display and wherein the controller generates control signals causing the one or more selectable features to be presented on the display. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to present a paid subscription status of the user that identifies purchases of optional supplemental features. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the display to present offers for additional supplemental features not currently in the subscription plan of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more inputs are configured to receive payment authorization from the user for the purchase of additional supplemental features. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base mode is a first set of one or more exercise motions and wherein the one or more optional supplemental features comprises a second set of one or more exercise paths of motion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness equipment unit includes a display, wherein the base mode comprises a first set of visual presentations on the display and wherein the one or more optional supplemental features comprise a second set of visual presentations on the display. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one input is configured to receive a selection of a feature contained in the subscription plan of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is in communication with a second fitness equipment unit operable in the base mode and the one or more selectable optional supplemental features and a second input associated with the second fitness equipment unit, the controller further being configured to make available the one or more optional features on the second fitness equipment unit based upon an identity of a second user and a second subscription plan associated with the second user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is in communication with a second fitness equipment unit operable in a second base mode different than the first base mode and one or more second selectable optional supplemental features and a second input associated with the second fitness equipment unit, the controller further being configured to make available the one or more second optional features on the second s fitness equipment unit based upon an identity of a second user and a second subscription plan associated with the second user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optional features comprises forwarding at least a media resumption point from the fitness equipment unit to an external media player. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 receiving an identification of a user at a fitness equipment unit;   retrieving a current subscription plan for the user based upon the identification;   making features for the fitness equipment unit in the current subscription plan of the user available for use by the user on the fitness equipment unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the current subscription plan is retrieved from a database of a plurality of subscription plans for a plurality of potential users of the fitness equipment unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the subscription plan comprises features for a plurality of different fitness equipment units for each of the plurality of potential users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 making features in the current subscription plan available for selection by the user at the fitness equipment unit; and 
 receiving a selection of one or more of the features in the current description plan for the user; and 
 controlling the fitness equipment unit to use the one or more features based on the selection. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising receiving at the fitness equipment unit from the user selections of one or more features to add to the current subscription plan for the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  comprising receiving at the fitness equipment unit from the user payment for the one or more features to add to the current subscription plan for the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the base mode is a first set of one or more exercise motions and wherein the one or more optional supplemental features comprises a second set of one or more exercise paths of motion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fitness equipment unit includes a display, wherein the base mode comprises a first set of visual presentations on the display and wherein the one or more optional supplemental features comprise a second set of visual presentations on the display. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising presenting offers for an optional purchase of additional supplemental features not currently in the subscription plan of the user on a display associated with the fitness equipment unit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the current subscription plan includes a first feature having a first use quantity and a second feature having a second use quantity different than the first use quantity. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 receiving an identification of a user at a fitness equipment unit;   retrieved a current subscription plan for the user based upon the received identification of the user at the fitness equipment unit from a database of a plurality of subscription plans for a plurality of potential users of the fitness equipment unit;   making features for the fitness equipment unit in the current subscription plan of the user available for use by the user on the fitness equipment.   
     
     
         24 . A fitness equipment subscription system comprising:
 a fitness equipment unit operable in a base mode with one or more selectable optional supplemental features;   one or more inputs associated with the fitness equipment unit that receives input identifying a user using the fitness equipment unit; and   a controller in communication with the input and the fitness equipment unit, wherein the controller is configured to limit use of the fitness equipment unit based on a subscription plan associated with the user.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the subscription plan associated with the user identifies a quantity of use of the fitness equipment unit available to the user. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the subscription plan associated with user identifies a universal time period available to the user for using the fitness equipment unit.