System and method for collecting, analyzing and reporting fitness activity data

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring a fitness activity of user performing a fitness activity with an exercise device is described herein. The system includes a sensor for sensing and transmitting data indicative of an exercise that is being performed with an exercise device, a user identification device, a database, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a signal indicative of a patron ID and responsively retrieve a patron record being associated with the received patron ID from the database. The processor also determines a planned exercise sequence associated with the patron exercise session as a function of the retrieved patron record, determines a current exercise sequence being performed by the patron, and determines a condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence.

1 . A system for monitoring a fitness activity of a user, comprising:
 an equipment sensor adapted to be coupled to the exercise device for sensing and transmitting data indicative of an exercise being performed with the exercise device, the sensed data including a force being applied to the exercise device;   a mobile device associated with the user, the mobile device including a sensor for sensing a movement of the user and configured to generate and transmit a signal including a patron ID and exercise data indicating the sensed movement;   a database including a collection of patron records, each patron record being associated with a corresponding patron ID and including a list of patron exercises; and   a server computer including a processor coupled to a memory device, the processor configured to:   receive, from the equipment sensor, a signal indicative of a force being applied to the exercise device and responsively initiate a patron exercise session;   receive, from the mobile device, a signal including the exercise data and the patron ID, retrieve a patron record being associated with the received patron ID from the database, and initiate an exercise session;   determine a planned exercise sequence associated with the patron exercise session as a function of the retrieved patron record and the received exercise data;   determine a current exercise sequence being performed by the patron as a function of the sensed force being applied to the exercise device and the received exercise data; and   determine a condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence.   
     
     
         2 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the server computer is configured to determine the condition of the patron exercise session to be less than a predefined exercise session if the current exercise sequence is different from the planned exercise sequence, and responsively notify the user via the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . A system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the mobile device includes a display, the server computer configured to render a trace image indicating the current exercise sequence on the display of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . A system in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the server computer is configured to render a trace indicative of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence on the display of the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a display device, the server computer configured to render an image of the planned exercise sequence on the display device. 
     
     
         6 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the server computer is configured to:
 receive a unique device ID from the equipment sensor;   determine an exercise device type being used by the patron as a function of the received unique device ID; and   determine the planned exercise sequence as a function of the identified exercise device type.   
     
     
         7 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising video imaging device for capturing video images of the user during the exercise session, the server computer configured to receive the video images from the video imaging device and determine the condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the received video images. 
     
     
         8 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the server computer is configured to:
 determine a plurality of exercise values being associated with the current exercise sequence as a function of the sensed data; and   generate and store data indicative of the current exercise sequence in the database, the current exercise sequence being associated with the patron record.   
     
     
         9 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of exercise values includes at least one of a number of exercise sets included in the current exercise sequence, a number of exercise repetitions being included in each exercise set, a time to complete each exercise repetition, a tempo of exercise repetitions, a time to complete each set, and a time between each set. 
     
     
         10 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the server computer is configured to generate a modified exercise sequence as a function of the current exercise sequence and the planned exercise sequence and store the modified exercise sequence in the database for use during a subsequent exercise session initiated by the associated patron. 
     
     
         11 . A computer implemented method of monitoring a fitness activity of a user, including a server computer performing the steps of:
 operating a mobile device including a sensor to sense a movement of the user and generate and transmit a signal including a patron ID and exercise data indicating the sensed movement;   receiving the signal from the mobile device including the exercise data and the patron ID, accessing a database including a plurality of patron records, retrieving a patron record being associated with the received patron ID from the database, and initiating an exercise session;   determining a planned exercise sequence associated with the patron exercise session as a function of the retrieved patron record and the received exercise data;   receiving, from an equipment sensor coupled to an exercise device, a signal indicative of a force being applied to the exercise device;   determining a current exercise sequence being performed by the patron as a function of the sensed force being applied to the exercise device and the received exercise data;   determining a condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence; and   rendering an image indicating the current exercise sequence on the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the step of determining the condition of the patron exercise session to be less than a predefined exercise session if the current exercise sequence is different from the planned exercise sequence, and responsively notifying the user via the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of rendering a trace indicative of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence on the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of rendering an image of the planned exercise sequence on a display device. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of:
 receiving a unique device ID from the equipment sensor;   determining an exercise device type being used by the patron as a function of the received unique device ID; and   determining the planned exercise sequence as a function of the identified exercise device type.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of receiving video images of the user during the exercise session from a video imaging device; and
 determining the condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the received video images.   
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of:
 determining a plurality of exercise values being associated with the current exercise sequence as a function of the sensed data; and   generating and storing data indicative of the current exercise sequence in the database, the current exercise sequence being associated with the patron record.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of exercise values includes at least one of a number of exercise sets included in the current exercise sequence, a number of exercise repetitions being included in each exercise set, a time to complete each exercise repetition, a tempo of exercise repetitions, a time to complete each set, and a time between each set. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , including the steps of generating a modified exercise sequence as a function of the current exercise sequence and the planned exercise sequence and storing the modified exercise sequence in the database for use during a subsequent exercise session initiated by the associated patron. 
     
     
         20 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
 operate a mobile device including a sensor to sense a movement of the user and generate and transmit a signal including exercise data indicating the sensed movement and a patron ID;   receive the signal from the mobile device including the exercise data and the patron ID, accessing a database including a plurality of patron records, retrieving a patron record being associated with the received patron ID from the database, and initiating an exercise session;   determine a planned exercise sequence associated with the patron exercise session as a function of the retrieved patron record and the received exercise data;   receive, from an equipment sensor coupled to an exercise device, a signal indicative of a force being applied to the exercise device;   determine a current exercise sequence being performed by the patron as a function of the sensed force being applied to the exercise device and the received exercise data;   determine a condition of the patron exercise session as a function of the planned exercise sequence and the current exercise sequence; and   render an image indicating the current exercise sequence on the mobile device.