Electronic networked intelligent fitness training coach system

Abstract

A networked fitness system provides real time feedback to a user in the proper operation of a stacked weight fitness machine, while aggregating the user data for the benefit of both the user and the fitness facility. The device automatically connects the user's portable electronic device to the stacked weight fitness machine and provides valuable feedback to the user as to proper machine usage in real time. The aggregated fitness data provides fitness suggestions to the user as well as guidance to the fitness facility to minimize user attrition, increase machine utilization, and identify potential equipment issues.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A networked fitness system comprising:
 at least one sensing device to detect a movement of at least one weight of a weight stack included with a fitness machine;   a communications interface to interface between the at least one sensing device and a portable electronic device of a user of the fitness machine; and   control programming deployable on the portable electronic device of the user and configured to inform the user of at least one of the following, based upon the detected movement of the at least one weight of the weight stack:
 at least one usage characteristic for the user of the fitness machine, and 
 at least one progress characteristic for the user with respect to an individualized fitness plan for the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device of the user is configured to track at least one of a usage of the fitness machine by the user and a progress on the fitness machine by the user over time. 
     
     
         3 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device of the user is configured to provide at least one improvement recommendation to the user based upon the usage characteristic for the user or the progress characteristic for the user. 
     
     
         4 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one improvement recommendation is from an online source. 
     
     
         5 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communications interface is configured to interface with a fitness facility in which the fitness machine is located to inform the fitness facility of the at least one usage characteristic for the user or the at least one progress characteristic for the user. 
     
     
         6 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the fitness facility can determine at least one suggested change to the individualized fitness plan of the user based upon the detected movement of the at least one weight of the weight stack. 
     
     
         7 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the fitness facility can track at least one of a usage of the fitness machine by the user and a progress on the fitness machine by the user over time. 
     
     
         8 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the fitness facility can determine at least one of an addition, a subtraction, or a relocation associated with the fitness machine based upon the usage of the fitness machine or the progress on the fitness machine by the user over time. 
     
     
         9 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensing device to detect a movement of at least a second weight of the weight stack. 
     
     
         10 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensing device to detect a movement of at least a second fitness machine of the fitness facility by the user, wherein the communications interface is configured to interface between the second sensing device and the portable electronic device of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the portable electronic device of the user is configured to review real time usage of the first fitness machine and the second fitness machine and recommend a sequence of usage of the first fitness machine and the second fitness machine to the user based upon the real time usage. 
     
     
         12 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for the at least one sensing device, the communications interface, and a power supply, wherein the housing is configured to attach to the fitness machine. 
     
     
         13 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indicator disposed on or proximate to the fitness machine for indicating the fitness machine to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control programming is configured to use an image capture device of the portable electronic device to capture cardio workout data and use the cardio workout data to further inform the user on the at least one usage characteristic for the user or the at least one progress characteristic for the user. 
     
     
         15 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a mount for securing the portable electronic device to the fitness equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the mount can articulate to reposition the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensing device comprises a rotational measuring device for measuring rotation of a pulley connected to the at least one weight. 
     
     
         18 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the rotational measuring device comprises an optical sensor that can sense movement of a disk attached to the pulley via a plurality of holes in the disk. 
     
     
         19 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the rotational measuring device comprises an optical sensor that can sense movement of indicia attached to the pulley. 
     
     
         20 . The networked fitness system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the indicia comprises a plurality of discrete labels.