Integrated Exercise Device Environment Controller

Abstract

An exercise environment controller is integrated into an exercise device and being usable to adjust one or more environmental parameters relative to an exercise device environment. The integrated exercise environment controller includes an input interface that receives environmental inputs from a user of the exercise device, an environment sensor that detects current environment parameters of the exercise device's environment, and a communication module connected to the input interface and the environment sensor that communicates a control command to a home automation device that regulates climate for at least the exercise device environment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise environment controller that is integrated into an exercise device, the integrated exercise environment controller being usable to adjust one or more environmental parameters relative to an exercise device environment, the integrated exercise environment controller comprising:
 an input interface that receives environmental inputs from a user of the exercise device;   an environment sensor that detects current environment parameters of the exercise device's environment; and   a communication module connected to the input interface and the environment sensor that communicates a control command to a home automation device that regulates climate for at least the exercise device environment, wherein upon receiving either an input from the input interface or an indication from the environment sensor, one or more environmental settings of the home automation device are adjusted using the control command.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the input interface includes buttons that are selectively activatable by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 2 , wherein the buttons allow the user to modify environment parameters for the exercise device's environment including air temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device environment is located in a household, the environment of which is regulated by the home automation device. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 4 , wherein the integrated exercise environment controller provides control over one or more environments in the household that are different than the exercise device's environment. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module communicates with the home automation device to control one or more heating or cooling devices. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 6 , wherein the communication module communicates with the home automation device to control one or more of the following: fans, misters and central air circulation systems. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the environment sensor determines current exercise parameters including one or more of the following: user's heart rate, user's body temperature, current pace of the exercise machine, current incline of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module further comprises a network interface that communicates with the home automation device via a wired connection. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module further comprises a wireless network interface that communicates with the home automation device wirelessly. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a display that displays commands performable on the home automation device. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 11 , wherein user input at the display causes the home automation device to perform one or more tasks. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 11 , wherein the display further displays status data regarding one or more aspects of home automation including at least one of the following: home security, home lighting and home appliance control. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module communicates with the home automation device to control lighting in the exercise device environment. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated exercise environment controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage module to store user profiles, wherein each profile includes user-specific exercise environment settings. 
     
     
         16 . An integrated exercise environmental control system, comprising:
 an exercise device, comprising:
 a movable element that is movable during the performance of exercise, the movable element having one or more adjustable operating parameters; 
 a receiver that receives control commands related to the one or more adjustable operating parameters; and 
 an actuator that causes the one or more adjustable operating parameters to be adjusted in response to the control commands received by the receiver; and 
   an integrated exercise environment controller, the integrated exercise environment controller comprising:
 an input interface that receives environmental inputs from a user of the exercise device; 
 an environment sensor that detects current environment parameters of the exercise device's environment; and 
 a communication module connected to the input interface and the environment sensor that communicates a control command to a home automation device that regulates climate for at least the exercise device environment, wherein upon receiving either an input from the input interface or an indication from the environment sensor, one or more environmental settings of the home automation device are adjusted using the control command. 
   
     
     
         17 . The exercise system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication module further comprises a wireless network interface that communicates with the home automation device wirelessly. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise system of  claim 16 , wherein the integrated exercise environment controller automatically controls the exercise device environment as sensor data is received from the environment sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise system of  claim 16 , further comprising a display that displays status data regarding one or more aspects of home automation including at least one of the following: home security, home lighting and home appliance control. 
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling an exercise device environment using an integrated exercise environment controller communicatively connected to a home automation system, the method comprising:
 running an exercise program on an exercise device, wherein the exercise program controls the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, and wherein the exercise program is initiated via a user input mechanism on the exercise device;   receiving at least one of the following: user input indicating a desired change in exercise device environment and environment sensor input indicating one or more current workout parameters;   generating a control command based on at least one of the received user input and the received environment sensor input; and   transmitting the generated control command from the integrated exercise environment controller to the home automation system to control the exercise device environment.