Exercise motivation system and method

Abstract

Exercise motivation systems and methods are provided that motivate persons to exercise by providing a reward through access to a device, such as a television. The exercise motivation system includes: an exercise monitor, associated with exercise equipment and configured to monitor exercise thereon; and a controller, operatively coupled to the exercise monitor. The controller is configured to control access to at least one other device according to exercise monitored using the exercise monitor.

1 . An exercise motivation system comprising:
 an exercise monitor, associated with exercise equipment and configured to monitor exercise thereon; and   a controller, operatively coupled to the exercise monitor,   wherein the controller is configured to control access to at least one other device according to exercise monitored using the exercise monitor.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the at least one other device comprises turning the at least one other device on or off. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the at least one other device comprises configuring the at least one other device such that functionality of the at least one other device is changed. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other device comprises a television, and wherein controlling access to the television comprises turning the television on or off, or turning on or off access to functions of the television. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other device comprises an Internet access device, and wherein controlling access to the Internet access device comprises controlling access to the Internet through the internet access device. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a power switch, configured to disrupt power to the at least one other device to control access thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 6 , wherein the power switch comprises a relay, selectively configurable to supply power to the at least one other device, the controller comprising a male plug, configured to be received in a power socket of a mains power supply, and a female socket, configured to receive a power plug associated with the at least one other device, wherein the relay is configurable to disrupt a power supply between the male plug and the female socket. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller includes a wireless control interface, the wireless control interface configured to receive control messages, wherein the power relay controls power to the at least one device according to the received control messages. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , configured to receive data relating to monitored exercise from the exercise monitor, and associate same with an account, wherein the controller is configured to control access to the at least one other device according to exercise monitored using the exercise monitor and associated with the account. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 8 , wherein the account is associated with an individual user. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 8 , further including one or more servers, configured to receive data relating to monitored exercise from the exercise monitor, and associate same with the account. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more servers are configured to store exercise time for each of a plurality of different users. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein monitored exercise time is associated with a time that the controller is configured to control access to the at least one other device according to one or more predefined rules. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined rules include a ratio of exercise time to access time of the at least one other device. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined rules are configurable by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined rules include different ratios of exercise time to access time for each of a plurality of different exercises. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of exercise monitors, each associated with different exercise equipment, wherein the controller is configured to control access to at least one other device according to exercise monitored using each of the plurality of exercise monitors. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of controllers, each configured to control access to a different other device, wherein the controllers are configured to control access to each of the different other devices according to exercise monitored using the exercise monitor. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, with which a user may interact, the user interface configured to provide an indication of time or credits available for use on the one or more devices. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise monitor is integral to the exercise equipment, and wherein the exercise equipment includes a user interface enabling users to configure the exercise equipment for use with the system. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise motivation system of  claim 1 , further configured to generate credits according to monitored exercise, wherein the credits are redeemable for other rewards. 
     
     
         22 . An exercise motivation method comprising:
 monitoring exercise on exercise equipment;   generating one or more credits according to the monitored exercise;   allocating the one or more credits to a user associated with the exercise; and   controlling access to at least one other device, according to the credits.