Networked exercise machine

Abstract

Exercise machines are networked together to provide a user with an indication of the user's performance level compared to the performance levels of other users. Simulated characters corresponding to the users are shown on one or more displays viewable by the users. The simulated characters have a primary movement that may differ in type from the primary movement used in achieving the exercise by the corresponding user. Further, the primary movement used to achieve exercise by one user may differ from the primary movement used to achieve exercise by another user. Exertion transducers provide signals that are used in calculating parameters such as speed and acceleration. Biometric data may be measured from the users during exertion and displayed or uploaded onto the network.

1 . An exercise system comprising:
 a first exercise machine manipulated by a first user, the first exercise machine including:
 a first display; 
 a first energy transducer for:
 sensing a first level of exertion by the first user; and 
 providing first exertion data based on the first level of exertion; 
 
 a first network interface; 
 a first processor operable for executing instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the instructions including:
 a first module for processing the first exertion data; 
 a second module for generating a first simulated environment on the first display,
 wherein the first simulated environment includes a first simulated character that corresponds to the first user, 
 wherein a first rate of movement by the first simulated character is influenced by the first exertion data, 
 wherein the first simulated environment includes a second simulated character that corresponds to a second user of a second exercise machine, 
 wherein a second rate of movement by the second simulated character is influenced by second exertion data received over the first network interface. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the second exercise machine and the first exercise machine communicate through a wide area network. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein the first network interface utilizes wireless communication. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein a second processor in communication with the second exercise machine executes instructions for associating a timestamp with the second exertion data, wherein the timestamp is associated with the second exertion data prior to receipt of the second exertion data through the first network interface. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the first user manipulates the first exercise machine using a first type of motion, wherein the first simulated character exhibits a second type of motion that differs from the first type of motion. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 5 , wherein the first user manipulates the first exercise machine using a substantially circular, pedaling motion. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the first user manipulates the first exercise machine using a third type of motion, wherein the first type of motion corresponds to a stairstep motion, wherein the third type of motion includes arm movements. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the first exercise machine further includes a resistance unit, wherein the first module takes into account a resistance setting of the resistance unit in calculating a power parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a pulse monitor for monitoring a heart rate of the first user.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 9 , further comprising a hub processor for processing the first exertion data and the second exertion data, wherein the hub processor provides multicasted data used by the first processor to display the first simulated environment and used by the second processor to display the second simulated environment. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an audio output device for providing the first user with an audio output signal corresponding to the first simulated environment.   
     
     
         12 . The exercise system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a steering mechanism coupled to the first exercise machine for receiving directional input from the first user, the directional input used by the first processor to affect a direction of the first simulated character.   
     
     
         13 . A method of networking exercise machines, the method comprising:
 coupling a first exercise machine to a second exercise machine,   transmitting first exertion data from the first exercise machine, wherein the first exertion data corresponds to a signal produced by a transducer coupled to the first exercise machine, wherein the transducer is responsive to motion produced by a first user of the first exercise machine;   presenting to the first user on a first display a simulated environment including a first simulated character corresponding to the first user,
 wherein the first simulated character has speed that corresponds to the first exertion data, 
 wherein the first simulated character has a first simulated motion that differs in type from a first motion of the first user, 
 wherein the simulated environment includes a second simulated character corresponding to a second user of the second exercise machine, and 
 wherein the second simulated character has second simulated motion that differs in type from a second motion of the second user. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the motion from the first user is a substantially circular, pedaling motion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first simulated character has a series of simulated direction changes that correspond to a series of directional inputs provided to a direction transducer coupled to the first exercise machine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second motion of the second user differs in type from the first motion of the first user, wherein the second simulated motion of the second simulated character corresponds in type to the first simulated motion of the first simulated character. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second motion includes a substantially circular, pedaling motion, wherein the first motion includes a stair-stepping motion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of claim number  14 , wherein the first exercise machine includes a processor for calculating the exertion data from energy transducer data. 
     
     
         19 . An exercise machine operated by a first user, the exercise machine comprising:
 a network interface for receiving exertion data signals from a second exercise machine;   a display for presenting a simulated environment to the first user, wherein the simulated environment includes a first simulated character corresponding to the first user, wherein the first simulated character has a parameter determined by a level of exertion of the first user, wherein the first simulated character has a primary simulated movement that differs in type from a primary movement of the first user.   
     
     
         20 . The exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the second simulated character has a primary simulated movement that corresponds in type to that of the first simulated character, wherein the primary movement of the first user differs in type from a primary movement of a second user, wherein the second user provides exertion that results in the exertion data signals received from the second exercise machine.