Interactive and Dynamic Fitness System

Abstract

A fitness system includes a training area with exercise equipment and a positional tracking system to record and evaluate a participant. The system optionally includes a virtual or augmented reality headset, standalone display, computer, additional feedback sensors, accessories, and communication components. The positional tracking system preferably includes one or more laser-based base stations and a plurality of positional tracking sensors placed on or near the participant and equipment. The participant can play games, interact with others, and track performance, and the system dynamically adapts in response to information provided by the tracking system, user inputs, and other sensors or inputs.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a dynamic fitness environment for enjoyment by a participant comprising:
 a. providing a dedicated training area accessible to the participant, wherein the dedicated training area comprises at least one exercise equipment;   b. continuously detecting position information of the participant in the dedicated training area with a laser-based positional tracking system;   c. continuously communicating the participant position information to a computer system programmed to analyzing the position information, to determine if the exercise equipment should be adjusted, and to control and adjust the exercise equipment; and   d. continuously adjusting the exercise equipment according to instructions received from the computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. providing a headset in the dedicated training area; 
 b. positioning the headset on the participant such that the participant can view a display on the headset while using the exercise equipment; and 
 c. delivering content to the headset while the participant uses the exercise equipment, wherein the content comprises visual content viewable on the headset display. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. establishing a communication link between the headset and computer system, wherein the computer system is further programmed to deliver content to the headset and to adjust the content delivered to the headset; 
 b. continuously determining with the computer system if adjusted content should be delivered to the headset based on the participant position information received by the computer system; 
 c. continuously creating adjusted content with the computer system when appropriate; and 
 d. continuously delivering the adjusted content from the computer system to the headset. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising collecting participant information from the participant before the participant begins using the provided exercise equipment and delivering the collected participant information to the computer system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the collected participant information includes personal and historical information, wherein the computer system is further programmed to maintain such information, and wherein the method further comprises updating the stored personal and historical information in the computer system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the collected participant information includes the participant's desired environmental parameters for the dynamic fitness environment, wherein the computer system is further programmed to control and adjust environmental parameters, and wherein the method further comprises using the computer system to automatically adjust the environmental parameters according to the participant's instructions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the participant information collected includes the participant's desired initial equipment parameters and wherein the method further comprises using the computer system to automatically adjust the initial equipment parameters according to the participant's instructions before the participant uses the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the exercise equipment further comprises at least one smart handle comprising a user input and game controller components and wherein the method further comprises:
 a. continuously detecting position information of the smart handle with the laser-based positional tracking system while the participant uses the smart handle; 
 b. continuously communicating smart handle position information and the smart handle user inputs to the computer system, wherein the computer system is further programmed to analyze the smart handle position information and user input information and to determine if adjusted content should be delivered to the headset based on the smart handle position and user inputs; 
 c. continuously creating adjusted content with the computer system when appropriate; and 
 d. continuously delivering the adjusted content from the computer system to the headset. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. continuously detecting position information of the exercise equipment with the laser-based positional tracking system while the participant uses the exercise equipment; 
 b. continuously communicating the exercise equipment position information to the computer system, wherein the computer system is further programmed to analyzing the exercise equipment position information and to determine if the exercise equipment should be adjusted in light of the exercise equipment position; and 
 c. continuously automatically adjusting the exercise equipment according to instructions received from the computer system. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. providing a plurality of inputs in the dedicated training environment; 
 b. continuously monitoring the plurality of inputs; 
 c. communicating a change in any of the plurality of inputs to the computer system, wherein the computer system is further programmed to evaluate changes among the plurality of inputs and instruct or control a plurality of outputs in the training environment; and 
 d. continuously operate the plurality of outputs according to instructions from the computer system. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the laser-based positional tracking system comprises a plurality of positional tracking sensors placed in the dedicated training area to detect the position of the participant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of positional tracking sensors are attached to one or more accessories configured to be worn by the participant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of positional tracking sensors are attached to the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the laser-based positional tracking system further comprises at least one positional tracking base station configured to emit a plurality of signals that cooperate with the plurality of positional tracking sensors. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a dynamic fitness environment for enjoyment by a participant comprising:
 a. providing a first dedicated training area accessible to the participant, wherein the dedicated training area comprises at least one exercise equipment, a laser-based positional tracking system, a headset, and at least one computer system, wherein the computer system is programmed to:
 i. receive and evaluate information received from a positional tracking system; 
 ii. deliver content to the headset; 
 iii. determine when the exercise equipment should be adjusted; 
 iv. determine when content delivered to the headset should be adjusted; 
 v. control and adjust the exercise equipment; 
 vi. control and adjust content delivered to the headset; 
   b. introducing the participant to the first dedicated training area;   c. placing the headset on the participant such that the participant can enjoy content delivered to the headset;   d. setting the initial parameters for the environment of the first dedicated training area and the equipment;   e. activating the positional tracking system when the user begins using the equipment or exercising;   f. continuously detecting participant position information with the positional tracking system while the participant uses the exercise equipment;   g. continuously detecting equipment position information with the positional tracking system while the participant uses the exercise equipment;   h. continuously communicating the participant position information and the equipment position information to the computer system;   i. continuously evaluating with the computer system whether the exercise equipment should be adjusted in light of the received position information and providing instructions when the equipment should be adjusted;   j. continuously evaluating with the computer system whether content delivered to the headset should be adjusted in light of the received position information and providing instructions when content should be adjusted;   k. continuously automatically adjusting the exercise equipment according to instructions received from the computer system; and   l. continuously automatically adjusting the content delivered to the headset according to instruction received from the computer system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a. providing at least one smart handle among the exercise equipment, wherein the smart handle comprises at least one user input; 
 b. continuously delivering any user input from the smart handle to the computer system, wherein the computer system is further configured to receive and evaluate user input from the smart handle; 
 c. continuously evaluating with the computer system whether content whether the exercise equipment should be adjusted in light of the received user input from the smart handle and providing instructions when the equipment should be adjusted; 
 d. continuously evaluating with the computer system whether content delivered to the headset should be adjusted in light of the received user input from the smart handle and providing instructions when content should be adjusted; 
 e. continuously automatically adjusting the exercise equipment according to instructions received from the computer system; and 
 f. continuously automatically adjusting the content delivered to the headset according to instruction received from the computer system. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the laser-based positional tracking system comprises at least one positional tracking base station configured to emit a signal that cooperates with a first plurality of positional tracking sensors and a second plurality of positional tracking sensors, wherein the first plurality of positional tracking sensors are positioned on the participant and the second plurality of positional tracking sensors are positioned on the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first plurality of positional tracking sensors are attached to accessories worn by the participant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the exercise equipment comprises a cable system comprising at least one repositionable resistance unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising communicating with a remote second dedicated fitness environment and sharing content between the first and second dedicated fitness environments.