Virtual trainer

This application claims priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/979,213 filed on Oct. 11, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates generally to fitness training, and more specifically to a system and method for providing an interactive virtual fitness trainer to users in real-time.

As personal fitness becomes more popular, people are looking for better and more effective ways to exercise. People further seek exercise programs which keep their interest and motivation levels high. One of the best ways for people who go to a gym, and even those who work out at home, to achieve a good workout is to enlist the help of personal trainers.

Personal trainers are individuals who usually have a fitness training background and who provide personal training services to an individual customer. These trainers instruct the exerciser how to properly use the equipment, design personalized exercise routines, give encouragement throughout the workout and even, if necessary, give the exerciser help, such as a spot. Another benefit of personal trainers is that they often provide their customers with the needed incentive and motivation to continue to work out and perform, and may also revise the exercise routine over time based on performance and results. However, these, real personal trainers can become extremely expensive and may not be available at all times. Often gyms have a limited number of trainers on staff and therefore it is also difficult to change trainers if desired.

As technology and the Internet have developed, various methods of overcoming the problem with personal trainers have arisen. Many aerobic exercise machines now come with predetermined programs that the user can tailor to fit his/her exercise needs and desires. Furthermore, systems have been developed to compare a user\'s current and previous performance and adjust the exercise equipment accordingly.

Methods to instruct users on the use of equipment and to design personal exercise routines have also developed. Videos have been produced to provide the details on how to use exercise equipment and computer programs have been written that will custom tailor an exercise routine to a user\'s abilities and requirements.

For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0164833 discloses software that allows users to choose a virtual personal trainer and select their own exercise routine. The virtual trainer demonstrates the use of the gym equipment on a computer and then the users follow the routine at their own pace and at a place and time of their own convenience. However, the virtual trainer is not there to encourage, motivate and assist the user while he/she is exercising.

None of these technological replacements for real personal trainers have all of the aspects of a real personal trainer. None provide the on site encouragement, motivation, incentive or assistance that a personal trainer can give. It is therefore desired to provide a system and method for creating and implementing an interactive virtual personal trainer that can be used on various exercise equipment. It is also desired to provide a system and method for providing a virtual trainer which provides a planned exercise routine and real time motivation based on past performance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a customizable interactive virtual trainer for providing an exercise routine and motivation and encouragement during the exercise routine. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which retains exercise data and history and provides the exercise routine and motivation based on the exercise data and history.

These and other objectives are achieved by providing a virtual trainer exercise system including at least one exercise equipment device including a video user interface, an audio input, an audio output, and a data port for receiving a portable storage device, a server in communication with the exercise equipment device, a database in communication with the server, the database including one or more user profiles, software executing on the exercise equipment device for receiving user data from the portable storage device, software executing on the server for accessing a user profile corresponding to the user data, and software executing on the server for generating an interactive virtual trainer based on the user profile and providing the interactive virtual trainer to the user via the user interface and audio output.

Also provided is a method of providing a user with a virtual trainer in situ on exercise equipment including the steps of receiving user data from a portable memory device, accessing a user profile corresponding to the user data, generating an interactive virtual trainer, displaying the interactive virtual trainer on a video display, implementing a workout routine on the exercise equipment, receiving speech input from the user and providing a response to the speech input via the interactive virtual trainer.

Further provided is a method of generating an interactive virtual trainer and workout regiment for use in situ on exercise equipment, including the steps of accessing a server via the Internet, creating a username and a password, entering one or more personal data elements corresponding to the user for storage in a user profile, selecting a customizable virtual trainer for storage in the user profile, selecting trainer attributes indicative of at least one of an appearance and a behavior of the virtual trainer, providing one or more workout parameters, and receiving a workout routine based on the one or more workout parameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a virtual trainer exercise system according to the present invention.

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Previous Patent Application:
User interface and methods of using in exercise equipment
Next Patent Application:
Folding exercising machine
Industry Class:
Exercise devices

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