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 computer-implemented method for competitive and network-enabled exercise, the method comprising:
 identifying, by a system comprising at least one processor, at least one network-enabled competition, the system storing data associated with a first application and a second application, wherein at least one of the first application or second application is selected by a first user of a first network device;   identifying, by the system, a second user of a second network device participating in the network-enabled competition;   displaying, by the system, identification data associated with the second user, wherein the identification data is selectable to access additional data associated with the second user;   executing, by the system, at least one of the first application or the second application on the first network device;   displaying, by the system, workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user associated with at least one of the first application or the second application during execution of at least one of the first application or the second application, wherein the workout data of the first user and the workout data of the second user comprise a comparable energy parameter associated with the first user and the second user; and   updating the display of the workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user with updated values of the comparable energy parameter, during execution of at least one of the first application or the second application.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second user and the first user are at geographically distinct locations. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the display of the workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user comprises a leaderboard with the first user and the second user ranked relative to one another. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second user comprises a historical version of the user. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second user comprises an ideal version of the user, wherein the ideal version is based at least in part on a goal of the user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first networked device is at least one of: a treadmill, an elliptical, an exercise bicycle, a bench press, one or more medicine balls, one or more dumbbells, one or more free weights, or a controlled weight machine. 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 identifying, by a system comprising a processor, at least one competition, comprising a first application and a second application, by a first user of a first network device;   discovering, by the system, a second user of a second network device participating in the competition;   executing, by the system, the first application or the second application on the first network device; and   displaying, by the system, workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user for the first application and/or the second application during execution of the first application and/or the second application, wherein the workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user comprises a comparable energy parameter related to the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         28 . A networked device comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   at least one processor to access the memory and execute the instructions to at least:
 identify at least one network-enabled competition, comprising a first application and a second application; 
 receive a selection of at least one of the first application or second application; 
 identify a second user of a second network device participating in the network-enabled competition; 
 display identification data associated with the second user, wherein the identification data is selectable to access additional data associated with the second user; 
 execute at least one of the first application or the second application; 
 display workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user associated with at least one of the first application or the second application during execution of at least one of the first application or the second application, wherein the workout data of the first user and the workout data of the second user comprise a comparable energy parameter associated with the first user and the second user; and 
 update the display of the workout data of the first user and workout data of the second user with updated values of the comparable energy parameter, during execution of at least one of the first application or the second application. 
   
     
     
         29 . The networked device of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor that is a part of the exercise machine and a sensor that is wearable by the user. 
     
     
         30 . The networked device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to communicate through a network device. 
     
     
         31 . The networked device of  claim 28 , wherein the second user is located at a remote distance from the first user. 
     
     
         32 . The networked device of  claim 28 , wherein the workout data further comprises an age of the user and a geographical location of the user. 
     
     
         33 . The networked device of  claim 28 , comprising at least one of: a treadmill, an elliptical, an exercise bicycle, a bench press, one or more medicine balls, one or more dumbbells, one or more free weights, or a controlled weight machine.