Method and system for managing a training of users on a plurality of exercise machines

Abstract

A method manages training of users on exercise machines provides a control unit of a user training class on exercise machines. The control unit is accessible by a trainer user managing the training class. Exercise machines are operatively connected to the control unit by a data communication network. The control unit loads a training program to be performed for the class users chosen by the trainer user in a respective memory module of the control unit. The control unit sends a training start command to the exercise machines by the data communication network. The training starts following receipt of the training start command. An operation control instruction of each exercise machine is sent to the exercise machines by the control unit and data communication network. Operation of each exercise machine is controlled based on the operation control instruction of each exercise machine received from the control unit.

1 . A method for managing a training of users on a plurality of exercise machines, comprising steps of:
 providing a control unit of a user training class on a plurality of exercise machines, the control unit being accessible by a trainer user in charge of managing a training class on a plurality of exercise machines;   providing a plurality of exercise machines operatively connected to the control unit by a data communication network;   loading, by the control unit, in a respective memory module of the control unit, a training program to be performed for the users of the training class chosen by the trainer user from various training programs;   sending, by the control unit, by the data communication network, a start of training command to the plurality of exercise machines;   starting, by the plurality of exercise machines, the training following reception of the start of training command;   sending to the plurality of exercise machines, by the control unit, by the data communication network, at least one control instruction of operation of each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines;   controlling the operation of each exercise machine, by each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines based on the at least one control instruction of the operation of each exercise machine received by the control unit.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending is performed, by the control unit, following a manual command of the trainer user, the step of sending being performed, by the control unit, to provide the plurality of exercise machines with the at least one control instruction of the operation of each exercise machine, the at least one control instruction belonging to the group comprising: a stop command, a pause command, a restart command, an end of training command, a synchronization command. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending is performed, by the control unit, as a function of a profile of the training program chosen by the trainer user, the step of sending being performed, by the control unit, to provide the plurality of exercise machines with the at least one control instruction of the operation of each exercise machine, comprising variation of a parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, between the step of loading, by the control unit, a training program to be performed for the training class users and the step of sending, by the control unit, a start of training command to the plurality of exercise machines, a step of sending, by the control unit, the training program chosen by the trainer user to the plurality of exercise machines, by the data communication network. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising a step of performing, by each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines, the training program received from the control unit, the at least one control instruction of the operation of each exercise machine comprising variation of a parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation, being performed autonomously by each exercise machine. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines is a treadmill, said exercise machine parameter which is controllable during operation being gradient of the treadmill, the step of controlling being performed by controlling an actuation device with which each exercise machine is provided configured to receive a treadmill gradient variation command from a respective data processing unit of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending the at least one control instruction of the operation of an exercise machine is performed, by the control unit, in reply to reception of a respective request to receive a control instruction of the operation of an exercise machine and of training data of each user on a respective exercise machine, recorded by the exercise machine during operation, periodically sent by each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprises a step of providing, by the control unit, a piece of information representative of the training time during performance of the training program to the plurality of exercise machines, by the data communication network. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of showing to the trainer user, by the control unit, by a respective display module with which the control unit is provided, a list of the users taking part in the training program, wherein, user identification data and an indication representing that a user can follow a profile of a first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation or not, according to the loaded training program, are associated with each user, said step of showing comprising steps of:
 receiving a value of said first parameter of the exercise machine which during operation, during a user's training on the exercise machine;   comparing the received value with the value of said first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation by the training program in order to determine a deviation;   wherein if the deviation is different from zero, moving a line inside the plurality of lines corresponding to the user to the first place of the plurality of lines, adding a graphic symbol by the side of at least either one or a combination of: a sequential number, a respective real name and a respective nickname of the user.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of sending, by each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines, to the control unit, by the data communication network, during performance of the training program, a request of control instructions of the operation of the exercise machine and training data of the user on the exercise machine, comprising at least either one or a combination of:
 a value of a first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation;   a value of a second parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation;   data representative of a user's physical condition during the training;   user's identification data.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of manually modifying, during performance of the training program, following a command received from the user via a control interface with which an exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines is provided, a value of a first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation or of a second parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation if the user cannot keep the value of the first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation or the value of the second parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation, set automatically during the training program chosen by the trainer user. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of providing the user, by the respective exercise machine by a display unit with which the exercise machine is provided, with a piece of information representative of one or more preferred values of a second parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during operation, determined on the basis of the value of the first parameter of the exercise machine which is controllable during its operation. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
 sending, by the control unit, an end of training command to the plurality of exercise machines, by the data communication network;   ending, by the plurality of exercise machines, the training following reception of the end of training command.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of providing a remote electronic processor operatively connected to the control unit and to the plurality of exercise machines, the method, after sending an end of training command, at the end of the training, comprising steps of:
 storing, by the control unit, a summary of the training class in a respective memory module;   sending, by the control unit, to the remote electronic processor, the summary of the training class in order to store the summary in a control unit of the remote electronic processor in a personal trainer user's account.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , comprising, following the reception of the end of the training command, a step of sending, by each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines, to the remote electronic processor, training results performed by the user on the exercise machine, in order to store the training results in the memory unit of the remote electronic processor in a user's account. 
     
     
         16 . A system for managing a training of users on a plurality of exercise machines, comprising:
 a control unit of a training class of users on a plurality of exercise machines, the control unit being accessible by a trainer user managing a training class on a plurality of exercise machines;   a plurality of exercise machines operatively connected with the control unit by a data communication network;   the control unit being configured to:
 load, in a respective memory module of the control unit, a training program to be performed for the users of the training class chosen by the trainer user; 
 send, by the data communication network, a start of training command to the plurality of exercise machines; 
 send to the plurality of exercise machines, by the data communication network, at least one control instruction of operation of each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines; 
   each exercise machine of the plurality of exercise machines is configured to:
 start the training following reception of the start of training command; 
 control the operation of each exercise machine based on the at least one control instruction of the operation of each exercise machine received by the control unit. 
   
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a remote electronic processor operatively connected to the control unit and to the plurality of exercise machines, the control unit being configured to:
 after sending an end of training command, at the end of the training, store a summary of the training class in a respective memory module;   send to the remote electronic processor a summary of the training class to store the summary in a control unit of the remote electronic processor in a personal trainer user's account.