Systems and networks for enabling exercise equipment to communicate with a network

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling exercise by a user. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a communication unit, a user interface unit, and a processor. The processor may receive user identification data from the user via the user interface unit and retrieve data based on the user identification data from an electronic data store. The processor may use the data to generate an exercise routine and command signals may be sent to an exercise machine based on the generated exercise routine. The processor may receive exercise data from the exercise machine via the communication unit and store the exercise data in the electronic data store.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device comprising:
 a non-transitory memory to store computer-executable instructions; and   a processor to execute the computer-executable instructions to at least:
 retrieve data for the subject from an exercise apparatus used by the subject over a first network; 
 determine a related data parameter based on the data; and 
 store the data parameter for the subject in a central repository over a second network. 
   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to retrieve a historical data parameter for the subject from the central repository. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to compare the data parameter to the historical data parameter and configure a health-related plan for the subject on the exercise machine. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to store the health-related plan configured for the subject in the central repository. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to send the health-related plan configured for the subject to the apparatus for execution by the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is at least one of a short range network and a long range network. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the workout data parameter is determined further based on at least one of an age of the subject, a sex of the subject, a geographical location of the subject, an ethnicity of the subject, and a fitness level of the subject. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to retrieve entertainment data for the subject, the entertainment data comprising at least one of a movie, music, a TV show, a book, a magazine, a game, and a crossword, and
 wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to send the entertainment data to the apparatus.   
     
     
         29 . A system comprising:
 a non-transitory memory to store computer-executable instructions; and   a processor to execute the computer-executable instructions to at least:
 retrieve first data for a first subject from a first exercise apparatus used by the first subject over a first network; 
 retrieve second data for a second subject from a second exercise apparatus used by the second subject over a second network; 
 determine a data parameter based on a comparison between the first workout data and the second workout data; and 
 store the parameter in a central repository over a third network. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the data parameter indicates a winner of a contest between the first subject and the second subject. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to display the first data and the second data concurrently. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first data and the second data are collected at different times. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to configure a health-related plan for the first subject and the second subject based on data retrieved from the central repository over the third network. 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving, by a system comprising a processor, first data for a first subject from a first exercise apparatus used by the first subject over a first network;   retrieving, by the system, second data for a second subject from a second exercise apparatus used by the second subject over a second network;   determining, by the system, a parameter based on a comparison between the first data and the second data; and   storing, by the system, the parameter in a central repository over a third network.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first subject and the second subject are the same person; and
 wherein the first data and the second data are collected at different times.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the parameter is determined further based on at least one of an age of the person, a sex of the person, a geographical location of the person, an ethnicity of the person, and a fitness level of the person. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising configuring, by the system, a health-related plan for the first subject or the second subject based on the parameter. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising storing, by the system, the health-related data plan in the central repository. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising retrieving entertainment data for the subject,
 wherein the entertainment data is sent to the apparatus.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , the entertainment data comprises at least one of a movie, music, a TV show, a book, a magazine, a game, and a crossword.