Method for creating and distributing personalized fitness instruction

Abstract

A multimedia system product for use in physical fitness training including a method and system for producing customized physical fitness programs through an internet-based environment. The user is allowed to select the individual components of the exercise video and manipulate motion capture data by using a graphics engine to customize the “look and feel” of the customized workout through available training avatars. The individual components eligible for inclusion are included in a database containing a plurality of audio and visual media files of personal trainers performing exemplar exercises. The compiled instructional video is then available for download and installation on a video-enabled personal media player.

1 . A multimedia personal-training system, comprising:
 (a) a user, wherein the user has access to an internet equipped computer;   (b) a video enabled personal media player, wherein the personal media player is capable of synchronization with the user's computer;   (c) an internet-based environment, wherein the internet-based environment comprises a web-page, a guided user interface (“GUI”), and a computer server;   (d) an exercise database containing one or more transition videos and exercise components, wherein the transition videos and exercise components are stored in computer-readable format;   (e) a computer software means for accessing the exercise database through the internet-based environment;   (f) personal-training instructional media specific to the user;   (g) a computer software means for storing the personal-training instructional media in the internet-based environment;   (h) a computer software means for accessing the personal-training instructional media in the internet-based environment;   (i) a means for transmitting the personal-training instructional media to the user's computer and synchronizing with the video-equipped personal media player.   
     
     
         2 . The multimedia system of  claim 1 , wherein the transition videos are indexed by factors including length and content; 
     
     
         3 . The multimedia system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise components are further comprised of audio instruction components and video components; 
     
     
         4 . The multimedia system of  claim 3 , wherein the audio instruction components are indexed to corresponding video components. 
     
     
         5 . The multimedia system of  claim 4 , wherein the video components further include personal trainers demonstrating a plurality of physical exercises and movements. 
     
     
         6 . A method of creating the video components of  claim 5 , comprising of
 (a) a means for recording exercise demonstrations;   (b) animation and/or motion-capture methods;   (c) computer generated imagery rendering engines; and   (d) a means for storing the video components in a machine-readable format.   
     
     
         7 . The multimedia system of  claim 5 , wherein the video components are indexed by factors relevant to the user, including gender, target muscle groups, required equipment, and exercise experience level. 
     
     
         8 . A method of generating personal-fitness instructional media, comprising the steps:
 (a) processing a plurality of user-specific information;   (b) generating a first selection of one or more exercise components, wherein the first selection of exercise components is made by comparing the user-specific information, including gender and exercise experience level, with the indexed information in the exercise database;   (c) generating a second selection of one or more exercise components, wherein the second selection of base audio-video components is made by the user from the first selection of exercise components by means of a guided user-interface (“GUI”) through an internet-based environment;   (d) compiling a sequential series of exercises including the selected exercise components; and   (e) creating a finished media product, wherein a user-specific avatar is integrated with the sequential series of exercises whereby the user appears to be performing the demonstrated exercises.   
     
     
         9 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 8 , wherein the user-specific information includes:
 personal body statistics, gender, exercise experience level, goals, target muscle groups, available equipment, and length/intensity of workout.   
     
     
         10 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 9 , further comprising the storage of the user-specific information in a computer readable format wherein the user-specific information is accessible through the internet based environment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 8 , further comprising the automatic selection of verbal instruction components according to the second selection of exercise components. 
     
     
         12 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 11 , further comprising the integration of the verbal instructions with the selected exercise components. 
     
     
         13 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 14 , further comprising the selection of transition videos based on the desired length/intensity of workout and the cumulative length of the selected exercise components whereby the transition videos are selected to provide time for rest or repetition of the selected exercises by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 8 , further comprising creating the user-specific training avatar based on user-specific information, including a plurality of body statistics, whereby a multi-dimensional computer image of the user is generated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of generating personal-fitness instructional media of  claim 8 , wherein the finished media product is in a computer-readable format, including MPEG-4 format. 
     
     
         16 . A method for integrating audio files stored on user's computer with finished media product, comprising:
 (a) a means for randomly selecting audio files from the user's media library, wherein the audio files include .mp3, .wma, and .aac files;   (b) a means for importing selected audio files into the finished media product when downloaded on the user's computer; and   (c) a means for coordinating the volume of the added audio files with the audio components of the finished media product.