System and method for monitoring or assessing physical fitness from disparate exercise devices and activity trackers

Abstract

Physical fitness assessment systems and methods and wellness assessment systems and methods are disclosed. One physical fitness assessment system includes an exercise device and a host computer. The exercise device is configured to track movement of the exercise device by a user, determine a current physical activity data of the user based on, at least, the tracked movement, and transmit the current physical activity data of the user. The host computer is configured to receive from the exercise device the current physical activity data of the user, receive a physical fitness assessment selection to apply to the current physical activity data, compare the current physical activity data against benchmark physical activity data correlated with the exercise device, determine a physical fitness assessment of the user, generate the physical fitness assessment image based on the physical fitness assessment of the user, and present the physical fitness assessment image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellness assessment system, the system comprising:
 at least one exercise device, each of the at least one exercise device having:   a use detector configured to gather usage data responsive to manipulation of the exercise device by a user,   a storage device coupled to the use detector, the storage device configured to store the gathered usage data;   a processor coupled to the at least one exercise device; and   a memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory stores programming for execution by the processor;   wherein execution of the programming by the processor performs functions, including functions to:   retrieve the gathered usage data from the storage device,   generate an assessment of the wellness of the user by comparing the retrieved usage data to previously received usage data from one or more of the at least one exercise device, and   present the generated assessment to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the at least one exercise device is a weight machine or a free-weight training equipment;   the use detector includes:
 (i) at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the exercise device, 
 (ii) at least one gyroscope to measure rotation of the exercise device, or 
 (iii) an inertial measurement unit (IMU) having the at least one accelerometer and the at least one gyroscope; and 
   the use detector is configured to gather usage data by:   (i) measuring, via the at least one accelerometer, the acceleration of the exercise device,   (ii) measuring, via the at least one gyroscope, the rotation of the exercise device, or   (iii) measuring, via the inertial measurement unit, both the acceleration and the rotation of the exercise device.   
     
     
         3 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the at least one exercise device is the free-weight training equipment;   the free-weight training equipment is a dumbbell, a kettlebell, or a barbell; and   the generation of the assessment of the wellness of the user includes determining a number of sets and a number of repetitions based on the retrieved usage data.   
     
     
         4 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the free-weight training equipment includes:   an exercise device user input device to receive from the user a selection of an amount of weight to lift; and   a clock to track a time duration;   execution of the programming by the processor further performs functions to:   receive, via the exercise device user input device, from the user the selection of the amount of weight to lift; and   track, via the clock, a respective time duration of each set of the number of sets; and   the generation of the assessment of the wellness of the user is further based on the selection of the amount of weight to lift and the respective time duration of each set.   
     
     
         5 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the at least one exercise device is a treadmill, an exercise bike, a stair machine, or an elliptical machine; and   the use detector includes a tachometer, an ergometer, or a dynamometer.   
     
     
         6 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an activity tracker associated with each of the at least one exercise device to monitor physical activity of the user, the activity tracker including:   a heart rate monitor configured to track a heart rate of the user;   an activity tracker device memory;   an activity tracker processor coupled to the heart rate monitor and the activity tracker memory; and   activity tracker programming in the activity tracker memory, wherein execution of the activity tracker programming by the activity tracker processor configures the activity tracker to track, via the heart rate monitor, the heart rate of the user over a time duration; and   the generation of the assessment of the wellness of the user is further based on the heart rate of the user over the time duration.   
     
     
         7 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the activity tracker further includes a pedometer configured to track a number of steps of the user over the time duration;   the activity tracker processor is coupled to the pedometer;   execution of the activity tracker programming by the activity tracker processor further configures the activity tracker to monitor, via the pedometer, the number of steps of the user over the time duration; and   the generation of the assessment of the wellness of the user is further based on the monitored number of steps over the time duration.   
     
     
         8 . The wellness assessment system of  claim 6 , wherein the activity tracker is a wearable device. 
     
     
         9 . A system for assessing wellness of a user, the system comprising:
 a plurality of devices each configured to collect user data generated for the user and to transmit the user data, at least one of the plurality of devices being an exercise device and at least one of the plurality of devices being a measurement device;   a processor coupled for communication with the plurality of devices, the processor being configured to:   receive the user data from the plurality of devices,   compare the received user data to prior user data,   generate an assessment of the wellness of the user from the comparison of the received user data and the prior user data, and   communicate the assessment to the user;   wherein the user data collected by the exercise device includes usage of the exercise device by the user; and   wherein the user data collected by the measurement device includes a physical condition of the user.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the exercise device comprises a movement tracker for tracking the usage of the exercise device by the user, the movement tracker including:
 (i) at least one accelerometer o measure acceleration of the exercise device,   (ii) at least one gyroscope to measure rotation of the exercise device, or   (iii) an inertial measurement unit (IMU) having the at least one accelerometer and the at least one gyroscope.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the exercise device is the free-weight training equipment;   the free-weight training equipment is a dumbbell, a kettlebell, or a barbell; and   the user data collected by the exercise device includes a number of sets and a number of repetitions.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the exercise device is a treadmill, an exercise bike, a stair machine, or an elliptical machine; and   the exercise device comprises a movement tracker for tracking the usage of the exercise device by the user, the movement tracker including a tachometer, an ergometer, or a dynamometer.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the measurement device comprises a heart rate monitor; and
 wherein the user data collected by the measurement device includes a heart rate of the user over a time duration.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the measurement device comprises a pedometer; and
 wherein the user data collected by the measurement device includes configured to track a number of steps of the user over a time duration.