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Exercise circuit system and methodRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Monitors Exercise ParameterExercise circuit system and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060189440, Exercise circuit system and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/632,667, entitled "Exercise Circuit System and Method," filed on Dec. 02, 2004, having Gravagne et al., listed as the inventor, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] No federal grants or funds were used in the development of the present invention. BACKGROUND [0003] The invention is generally related to exercise equipment using RFID tags, sensors, display units, and network computers to monitor and individualize exercises for a multitude of users. More specifically, this invention is related to a method monitoring and individualizing exercises for a multitude of users. [0004] Circuit training is one form of exercise that allows for simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic exercise. A systemic aerobic workout can be achieved by doing a continuous series of anaerobic exercises. Generally, circuit training combines about 8-10 exercises that are completed one right after the other, with little or no rest in between. Circuit training is a fast efficient workout, and many people that utilize circuit training want to monitor their progress. Stopping the rapid pace of exercise for any reason is undesirable during circuit training. This includes stopping after every exercise routine to write down progress, notes, or measurements. In order to minimize interruption to the circuit training exercise routine, some machines have been developed that can monitor various parameters and track a user's current and past exercises. However, such machines need some type of user action to indicate who is using the machine. Thus, even when a machine is capable of tracking progress, it is generally impractical and undesirable for the user to take any explicit action to notify the exercise machine that a specific user is presently manipulating the machine. For example, if a track runner wanted to know and monitor his split times for each 100 meter segment in a 400 meter race, the overall race performance would be hampered if the runner needed to manipulate his watch (or another monitoring device) at each 100 meter segment. Thus, it would be impractical for the runner to do anything that altered his performance during the race, even if the action only took a short time (e.g. about 1 or 2 seconds), which could cost the runner the race. Similarly, the user of circuit training equipment should NOT stop exercising for any reason during the circuit routine. Ideally, the user of circuit training equipment should be able to walk up to an exercise machine and start using it with a zero time delay. EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,719, ("the '719 patent") issued to Michael Brown et. al., titled "Exercise Machine," describes an exercise machine which is capable of monitoring various parameters while the user exercises. These measurements may then be stored on some (possibly detachable) storage device, or transmitted across a network to a remote storage device. However, the machines described in the '719 patent are alerted to the identity of a particular user only if the user attaches a small computer system (termed a "personal exercise monitor device") which can identify that user, or if the user enters their personal identification data manually via a keyboard or other data entry device. This is impractical for circuit training because each user may spend a maximum of, for example, 30 seconds at each machine. Users cannot realistically be expected to enter keystrokes to identify themselves to the machine, or to attach (and subsequently detach and carry with them) any type of identifying monitor device. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,946, ("the '946 patent") issued to Stephen Batchelor et. al., titled "Training System," describes a system whereby exercise machines may adjust to a user's personalized exercise needs, and also monitor the user's exercise measurements. Each machine described in the '946 patent is outfitted with a smart-card reader and a small computer system that, after reading the contents of a user's particular card, adjusts the machine accordingly. Sensors on the machine are monitored by the computer system, which then stores measurements from those sensors on the card before the user disembarks from the machine. There are two major drawbacks to this architecture for circuit training scenarios. The first is that, like the '719 patent, the user is not automatically identified once they engang machine, but must place or swipe their card in the reader before beginning the exercise. The second is that the user may not disengage from the machine at any time, but must either wait until the computer system indicates that the exercise is over, or manually indicate to the computer system that he/she wishes to end the exercise. Otherwise, that user's exercise measurements will not be stored on the card for later retrieval. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,763, ("the '763 patent") issued to Nerio Alessandri, titled "System for Programming Training on Exercise Apparatus or Machines and Related Method," describes a system similar to the '946 patent. In it, each exercise machine adjusts to, and stores the exercise measurements of, a particular user that it identifies by a "portable medium" described as an "electronic key." As before, this key must be intentionally inserted into a particular receptacle on the machine by the user--the identification is not automatic. Once the user (or the machine) has terminated the exercise, the key may not be withdrawn until the machine's computer controller has written the pertinent exercise measurements and statistics into the key's memory. At some point in time, the user must then bring the key to a computer terminal so that all of its data may be downloaded and permanently stored. [0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/819,052 filed by Brent Anderson et al., titled "Health Club Exercise Records System," and published as 2004/0198555 A1, turns the identification problem around. Users carry small handheld portable computers, each equipped with a tag reader. Machines are uniquely tagged, so that when the handheld device comes within range of a given machine's tag, information about that machine is automatically known. Thus, the handheld unit may display motivational information to the user which is customized to that machine. However, no mechanism is given by which the machine may either adjust itself to a given user's profile, nor record and store that user's exercise measurements for later use. [0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/776,410 filed by Watterson, et al., on Feb. 2, 2001, and titled "Methods and Systems for Controlling an Exercise Apparatus Using a Portable Remote Device," ("the '410 application"), and published as 2002/0022551. The '410 application describes a portable system retrieves one or more exercise programs from a remote communication system that provides motivational content for a user exercising upon an exercise mechanism. The exercise program further includes at least one control signal that controls one or more operating parameters of the exercise mechanism. The portable system includes a control device configured to retrieve the exercise program and deliver the motivational content to the user by way of an audio delivery device, while delivering the control signals to the exercise mechanism. A sensor communicates with the control device and tracks one or more measurable parameters of the user during the user's performance of the exercise program. Data representative of the one or more measurable parameters can be delivered to the control device for delivery to the remote communication system. [0010] However, each of the machines listed above have problems, especially in connection with circuit training. What is needed is the ability for a user to walk up to an exercise machine and have the machine automatically recognize the user, retrieve the user's profile and modify the user's profile while the user is exercising. One method of wireless communication between the user and the machine is an RFID tag and RFID antenna in combination with a communication network by which a particular user's exercise measurements and statistics may be transmitted to a storage database, and by which a particular user's exercise settings may be retrieved from the database. For example, the '410 application furthermore assumes that one given user is solely using the machine, and it is not capable of distinguishing between multiple users and tailoring the exercise for each one differently. [0011] Radio Frequency Identification. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that is used to locate, identify and track many different types of items, such as clothing, laundry, luggage, furniture, computers, parcels, vehicles, warehouse inventory, components on assembly lines, and documents. RFID transponders, and RFID tags, are used in much the same way as optical bar codes, identifying the item to which they are affixed as being a particular individual or as being part of specific group. Unlike bar codes, RFID transponders can be read even when they cannot be seen, and hence a "direct line of sight" for transmitted RF energy and reflected RF energy is not required between interrogation device and the transponder. Furthermore, the identification numbers of a multiplicity of transponders can be read virtually simultaneously, with little or no effort on the part of the user to "aim" the interrogation device at each and every transponder. Some RFID transponders can store information in addition to that used for identification. This additional information may also be re-programmable by the user. Information within the transponder is typically accessed by a process variously referred to in the art as "scanning," "reading," or "interrogating." [0012] RFID transponders are typically interrogated by a radio transceiver with some added intelligence to enable it to send and receive data in accordance with a communication protocol designed into the transponder. When interrogating one or more transponders, the transceiver transmits RF energy to the transponder, and encodes information on the outgoing signal by modulating the amplitude, phase and/or frequency of the signal. The RFID transponder can receive this signal and interpret the information sent by the interrogating device, and may also then respond by sending information contained in reflected RF energy back to the interrogating device. [0013] RFID transponders are often classified as either active or passive. An active transponder is continuously powered by a battery or alternate power source. In contrast, a passive transponder obtains its power from the RF field imposed upon it by an RFID transponder interrogation device. A passive RFID transponder, therefore, must remain close enough physically to the interrogating device to obtain adequate power to operate its circuits. Typically, the range for a passive transponder will be less than that of an active transponder, given that the interrogating device is transmitting the same amount of RF power at the same frequency for both types of transponders. [0014] RFID transponders may be constructed from discrete components on a circuit board or they may be fabricated on a single silicon die, using integrated circuit ("IC") techniques and needing only the addition of an antenna to function. Transponders are generally designed to operate in one of a number of different frequency bands. Popular frequencies are centered around 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz. These particular frequencies are chosen primarily because regulations in many countries permit unlicensed operation in these bands, and the permitted transmission power levels are suitable for communicating with and/or providing power to the RFID transponders. Transponders operating at lower frequencies (e.g. 125 kHz and 13.56 MHz) generally require larger antennas, and typically employ inductive coupling via multiple-turn coils to achieve a small antenna size. High frequency transponders typically utilize electric field coupling via simple half-wavelength dipole antennas. For example, 2.45 GHz transponders can use simple paper-thin, printed-conductor antennas as small as 60 mm by 5 mm. In contrast, 125 kHz transponders typically use a coil antenna, usually either made of many loops of wire or of a foil spiral affixed to a substrate material. In low frequency transponders, both coils and printed spirals must be quite large in order to achieve an appreciable operating range. Examples of such transponders may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,658 and 4,730,188. [0015] RFID transponders are typically identified by a number contained within a memory structure within each transponder. This memory structure may be programmed in a variety of ways, depending on the technology used to implement the memory structure. Some transponders may employ factory-programmable metal links to encode the ID. Others may employ one-time-programmable ("OTP") methods, which allow the end user to program the ID. This is often referred to as Write Once, Read Many (WORM) technology, or as Programmable Read Only Memory ("PROM"). Both fusible links and anti-fuse technologies are used to implement this method of storage. Still other technologies allow the user to program and re-program the ID many times. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory ("EEPROM") and FLASH memory are examples of technologies that can be used to implement this type of access. The transponder ID number is typically stored in a binary format for ease of implementation, though other representations could be used. [0016] When multiple RFID transponders are within range of the interrogating device, it is typically desired to be able to identify all of the transponders in the field. Once the transponders have been identified, their presence may be noted in a computer database. Following identification, each of the transponders may also be addressed individually to perform additional functions, such as the storing or retrieving of auxiliary data. [0017] The ability of the system to efficiently identify the presence of a multiplicity of transponders is highly dependent upon the communications protocol used to interrogate the transponders. Among those familiar with the art, a protocol suitable for allowing multiple transponders to respond to an interrogation request is typically referred to as an "anti-collision protocol." The process of singling out one transponder for communication is typically referred to as the process of "isolation." [0018] Most anti-collision protocols communicate between an interrogation device and RFID transponders present in an RF field have relied upon pseudo-random number (PN) generators. PN generators are typically used to vary the time during which the transponders may respond, so as to eventually allow a response from each transponder to reach the interrogation device without colliding destructively with the response from another transponder. Examples of such protocols can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,105, 5,550,547, and 5,986,570. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. Continue reading about Exercise circuit system and method... Full patent description for Exercise circuit system and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise circuit system and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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