WO2015038051A1

WO2015038051A1 - An integrated system for digitization of gym/health industry

Info

Publication number: WO2015038051A1
Application number: PCT/SE2014/051032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raihan Rafique; Biddut BANIK
Original assignee: Cloudgym Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2013-09-10
Filing date: 2014-09-09
Publication date: 2015-03-19

Abstract

A Computerized Interfacing Platform (CIP) comprising an electronic hardware platform and software designed to identify users, interface with a gym equipment to read and acquire data, transfer the data to a server where the data can further be processed based on different algorithms for displaying plot, diagram or a picture. The output of the data can then be displayed, through internet or using other means of connectivity, to a computer, smartphone, tablet pc or any other similar device. The invention also addresses automated capturing method or workout data from gym equipment. The measured data can be processed and stored by/trough the CIP. These data can be accessed by gym users, gym instructors and medical researchers. The gym owner can monitor service availability to certain users.

Description

AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR DIGITIZATION OF GYM/HEALTH

INDUSTRY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to the field of health and fitness industry. More specifically, the present invention is related to a system and method for providing an interfacing platform for digitizing the gym instruments and hence fitness industry. Fitness industry has been flourishing over the years as general consciousness about health and fitness is increasing among the individuals. One of the infrastructures systems that are fueling the individual's health conscious activities is the gym system. Gym infrastructures systems are typically equipped with varieties of hardware equipment that essentially enable the users to carry out different types of physical activities or so called workouts. Although of high importance, gym users are often resort to simple pen and paper to keep track their workouts. Detailed workout data, if captured, is very much useful for progress tracking and medical and/or sports/gym market related researches. In today's progressive world, it is fundamentally becoming important to have a system to capture workout data for (a) more efficient interactions with the personal trainers and for oneself, (b) more optimized gym design and equipment utilization (c) bringing the benefits for medical research and athlete's performance simulations, (d) accessing and/or reviewing the workout data from a PC or mobile device through internet or any other means of connectivity and (e) enable to share data in different formats with individual's contact/group list through social media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, there exist no technical solutions that can bring all the above mentioned important benefits to the gym users and corresponding gym management. The main problem is that most of the gym equipments are not digitized to capture workout data. Moreover, the digitized equipments are not connected to any database, e.g. through internet or intranet. If the gym exercise data can be captured and stored with the ease of accessibility, the acquired information will then become very useful for monitoring progress, profiling users, medical research, rehabilitations, and optimization of gym equipment setup, etc.

From data collection point of view, gym users are often resort to simple pen and paper to keep track their workouts. There are several apps available on the market that can be used as journal. However, in all these cases the user logs simple data of the workout for a certain session sacrificing all details that are essential to accurately and precisely determine and monitor the progress. All workout related parameters, e.g. speed, weight, acceleration, deceleration etc., are necessary to monitor during each cycle. To acquire these data is vital to study the progress in work out and is missing in today's technical solutions.

Many users want to share their activities with their group/connections through social media interfaces on the internet. Hence brings a need for an inventive method that would seamlessly provide the user such opportunities.

In another aspect, for a gym owner, a solution is lacking for tracking usage and managing access to gym equipment. Such solution can be thought as an electronic gym management. There exist no solutions for proper gym management for the gym owner to keep track of the usage, popularity etc. of gym equipments. Furthermore, with the possibility to control access to certain gym equipment, the gym owner/ management will be able to provide time- limited and/or exclusive access to gym equipments and/or provide other value added services.

In the field of digitization of gym equipment, Alessandri et al. in patent EP 1068882 A2 and US 6616578 B2 have demonstrated a method to connect different individual machines connected via power grid for personalized settings. The invention also enables machines to be controlled remotely and enables real time communication between exercise stations only. The method is however limited to machines placed within a gym connected within the same power grid. Furthermore, the method is about controlling gym

equipments and therefore the data flow is towards the machine. According to the present invention, the method is about capturing the workout data and therefore the data flow is towards the server from the gym equipment. Kim et al. made effort to contribute to advancement on digitizing the gym through a series of inventions described in US7090741 B2 and in US8337365 B2. Both inventions however rely on a detachable weight pin which can act as sensor to sense the load and measure the data. This solution is more towards gym equipment manufacturers as gym equipments must be designed accordingly to accommodate the solution. The presented solution is more generic and drop-in type and therefore does not require any modification of the existing gym equipment.

Furthermore, the solution, shown in US8337365 B, is subjected to direct pressure (load) while in use. The accuracy of the load detection is poor. The lifetime of weight sensors are limited. The presented solution applies indirect methods to determine weight and other parameters and therefore the solution is inherently more robust offering much longer operational lifetime. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The solution, presented here, is interfacing platform based, modular and overcomes all the aforementioned limitations that exist with current solutions. The solution is of drop-in type that can be easily used in existing gym equipments and therefore doesn't require change in the setup or the design of gym equipments.

The core of the presented solution is the Computerized Interfacing Platform (CIP) and will be referred as CIP henceforth. The interfacing platform CIP is comprised of an electronic hardware platform and software designed, user identification module, interface with a gym equipment to read and acquire data, transfer the data to a server where the data can further be processed based on different algorithms for displaying in the format of at least one plot, diagram or a picture. The output of the data can then be displayed, through internet or using other means of connectivity, to a computer, smartphone, tablet pc or any other device that is capable of such purpose.

The CIP is capable of connecting to the internet directly and/or through a local server called Gym Server.

The CIP is also capable of connecting to other wired/wireless devices, e.g. heart rate monitor etc. The CIP is also capable of utilizing the benefits of Near Field

Communication (NFC) devices and use those as identification (ID), data storage, direct communication with application software (apps), real-time display of the workouts and/or to display the summary of the workouts.

Furthermore, the CIP is also capable of allowing the gym owner/ management to control the workout monitoring service availability to certain users at certain times for certain duration. Thus the CIP allows the possibility to offer time-limited and/or exclusive access to gym equipments and/or provide other value added services. Furthermore, the CIP can be used for payment processing and therefore allows the possibility to offer pay-per-use or similar schemes.

The invention also addresses automated capturing method of workout data from gym equipment. The solution is based on

electronic/electromagnetic sensors to track position of an object of interest, e.g. weight bars, with time. From this time verses sensor data we can extract the complete workout data in terms of velocity, timing, acceleration, deceleration, force and finally actual calorie burn. Using that we can determine muscle response and the overall progress. The measured data can be processed and stored by/through the CIP. The presented solution applies indirect methods to determine weight and other parameters and therefore the solution is inherently more robust offering much longer operational lifetime.

These data can be accessed by gym users and optionally gym instructor and/or medical researchers or other interested parties, based on the user's approval. Workout data can also be viewed real-time from CIP, gym server and/or remote server through internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 : The Computerized Interfacing Platform (CIP) comprising at least a processing unit e.g. microprocessor, memory module e.g. random access memory (RAM), user identification module e.g. Radio-Frequency identification (RFID), Power Management Unit (PMU), communication module and display and control modules. Figure 2: (a) shows a sensor network, for capturing workout data, comprising electronic/electromagnetic sensors to track position of an object of interest, e.g. weight bars, with time. The multiplexing method is also shown in (b).

Figure 3: Source and/or sensor array arrangements based on different approaches: electromagnetic wave, acoustic wave, magnetic field, metal detection and image processing.

Figure 4: (a) Sensor network arrangement example in a gym

equipment using weight-bar column. Also shows a possible location of the CIP (12) on the gym equipment. Example of source and sensor elements arrangements are shown in (b). Both (b) and (c) show the snapshots of two different time instances when the intended weight bars are moved vertically, (d) shows an example plot depicting the position of the weight stack with respect to time.

Figure 5: Sensor network arrangement examples in a gym equipment using weight-bar column.

Figure 6: An example showing the principle of determining the weight, velocity and other parameters by performing image analysis. Continuous images are taken, for instance, with a camera and images of different time instances, e.g. (a), (b), (c) etc., are compared.

Figure 7: Local gym server comprising computer platform, RFID module, local database, software and communication module.

Figure 8: Global server comprising computer platform, database, software and user interface.

Figure 9: Complete solution comprising CIP, sensor network, gym server and Global server.

Figure 10: Implementation example (1 ) of the complete solution. RFID card is used both for identification and the medium for data storage and transfer.

Figure 1 1 : Implementation example (2) of the complete solution. NFC enabled smartphone is used as identification, the medium for data storage and transfer, real-time display of the workouts and synchronizing information with a remote server. Figure 12: Implementation example (3) of the complete solution, showing the concept of displaying workout data real-time from CIP and/or gym server and/or remote server. It also shows the concept of connecting other wired/wireless devices to the CIP. An example of such devices is the heart rate monitor which could be displayed real-time with the workout data.

Figure 13: Multiple gym equipments are digitized and fitted with CIPs that are connected to the internet through gym server.

Figure 14: Multiple gym equipments are digitized and fitted with CIPs that directly connected to the internet through.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, the solution comprises an electronic hardware platform called Computerized Interfacing Platform (CIP). Figurel (a) shows the CIP comprising microprocessor, memory module, Power

Management Unit (PMU), Radio-frequency identification (RFID) module, communication module and display and control module.

The CIP comprises at least one processing unit e.g. microprocessor and/or microcontroller and/or other similar devices (e.g. FPGA, CPLD etc.) that execute programs, controls and communicates with other adjacent components and modules.

The CIP can optionally comprise one or more memory modules such as

RAM that can be used to store programs and data.

The CIP comprises at least one Power Management Unit (PMU) to supply and/or control power to different modules within and beyond the CIP.

The CIP comprises at least one user identification module e.g. RFID module that can read and/or write RFID cards/tags and thereby identify user and optionally store data on the RFID cards/tags. The module can also interface and exchange information with Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled devices. NFC enabled devices can be used as identification, the medium for data storage and transfer, real-time display of the workouts and synchronizing information with a remote server. The CIP comprises at least one communication module that, wired or wirelessly, can communicate and exchange information with other devices. The module can optionally connect to the internet.

The CIP comprises at least one display and control module that acts as an interface for the user and contains visual indicators, e.g. LED, LCD etc., and may contain switches that can be used to input/select certain commands to the CIP.

The CIP is interfaced to the sensor network, attached to a gym

equipment, to digitize workout data for acquisition and transmission to the local gym server and/or to the remote server(s). The platform can

communicate with the gym server and/or with the remote server wired or wirelessly through the communication module.

A user produces the identification to the CIP either with a RFID card/tag or with a NFC enabled device. The CIP identifies the user and starts logging the workout data received from the sensor network. The CIP can also perform further mathematical computations to structure and/or compress the received data. The CIP can store the data in the RFID card/tag or in the NFC enabled device or transmit the data to the gym server or to a remote server real-time or after each cycle or a session or in any other suitable interval. The memory module in the CIP can be used to store data temporarily.

Every CIP has an unique identification (ID) . This ID is used when communicating with the local gym server or with the remote server.

In another aspect of the invention, the CIP is also capable of allowing the gym owner/ management to control the workout monitoring service availability to certain users at certain times for certain duration. Thus the CIP allows the possibility to offer time-limited and/or exclusive access to gym equipments and/or provide other value added services. Visual and/or auditory indicators, as shown in Figure 1 (b), can be used with CIP to the current status (e.g. free/busy, unauthorized use, time remaining for the current workout session etc.).

The CIP may comprise at least one control module that can control (e.g. turn on or off the main power supply etc.) a gym equipment and thus grant or revoke access. Furthermore, the CIP can be used for payment processing and/or verifying payment status and therefore allows the possibility to offer pay-peruse or similar schemes. Financial transactions can be performed by reading the credit/debit card information either using the RFID module to read a NFC enabled credit/debit card or using a card reader that is interfaced with the CIP. Related communications can be performed connecting to a payment processing gateway through internet or mobile infrastructure via the communication module. Alternatively, standard payment processing gateway modules, which are commonly used in stores, can be interfaced with the CIP.

In another aspect of the invention, NFC enabled devices can be used to perform/confirm financial transactions through the RFID module on CIP.

Payment confirmations, e.g. payment by SMS, can be relayed to the CIP through the communication module. Corresponding verification codes, if required to gain access to the gym equipment and/or to the workout monitoring service, can be inserted using the Display and Control Module of CIP.

The CIP may also comprise a smartphone with an attached card reader and/or a payment processing app. This paves to way to utilize emerging techniques on payment processing.

In one aspect of the invention, the sensor network is employed to detect object(s) with respect to time and thereby determine the position, velocity, acceleration and deceleration. The sensor network comprises sensor array and/or source array. It may also include control circuitry and multiplexing. Multiplexing method can be used to reduce the number of connections between the CIP and the sensor network. Figure 2 shows the sensor network and multiplexing method where an example has been shown that

demonstrates the multiplexing procedure where a number of sensors' outputs (n) are multiplexed into 1 output. The intended sensor is chosen by the "Selector". The optional control circuit can be used to control the sensor and/or source network(s) and/or multiplexer and/or selector. The control circuit is also able to control the data flow and/or power supply to different adjacent blocks. In another aspect of the invention, a number of source and/or sensor methods can be used. The source and/or sensor arrays can be arranged in a number of ways as well. Figure 3 shows examples of different arrangements. The first example (1 ) shows source and sensor arrays mounted on opposite sides of the object (e.g. weight bar). In this case, the source and sensors could be based on electromagnetic wave or acoustic wave. The second example (2) shows source and sensor arrays mounted on the same side of the object (e.g. weight bar). In this case, the source and sensors could be based on electromagnetic wave or acoustic wave. The third example (3) shows source components, e.g. small permanent magnets) are attached to the weight bars and sensor arrays mounted on the same side of the object (e.g. weight bar). In this case, sensors could be based on magnetic field sensing type. The fourth example (4) shows a situation where only sensor components are used. In this case the sensors could be based on metal detection principle.

However, sources and sensors may exist as an integrated component and therefore only one array of such components can be used. An example could be an integrated component, comprising an infrared (IR) source and a sensor, can be used in the situation described in Figure 3 (2).

Figure 4 (a) shows a possible arrangement of source (1 ) and sensor (2) components (shown as black circles) in arrays. The arrangement, as such, depends on the type of the sources and sensors (mentioned in the previous paragraph), number of the weight-bars, desired accuracy of determining velocity, acceleration etc. An example of the arrangement, shown in Figure 4 (a), may comprise infrared (IR) sources and sensors.

Figure 4 (b) shows the implementation of the sensor network in a gym equipment having a number of weight-bars. In this case, the sensor network is based on the principle described in Figure 3 (2). Different parts of the gym equipment is also shown where

1 - Source array

2- Sensor array

3- weight bar supporting column

4- pulley for cable 5- cable connected to gym machines

6- cable connected to movable column

7- weight bar

8- movable column

9-mechanical frame of weight bar system in gym machine

10- hook for cable to connect movable column

1 1 - point to mount to hook for specific weight to movable weight bar

Figure 4 (b) and (c) show the snapshots of two different time instances when the intended weight bars are moved vertically. A sensor in the sensor network can determine if the weight-bar in front of it has moved and produce indicative electrical/electronic signal.

When the gym equipment is not in use and all the weight bars are at stand still, some sensors along the array will detect the weight-bars in front of them while others will not. The output of all the sensors are then used as a baseline when the gym equipment is used by a user. However, in order to determine the weight or load accurately, the weights of the weight-bars have to be entered into to the software of the CIP or in the database and this is an once-off procedure and can be done during the setup of the CIP and the sensor network.

However, when the gym equipment is in use, based on the signals sent by the sensor network, the CIP can determine which weight-bars are being used. Furthermore, the CIP can also calculate other intended parameters e.g. velocity, acceleration, cycles etc. by analyzing the signals sent by the sensors at different time instances, as shown in Figure 4 (b) and (c). Figure 4 (d) shows the exemplary graph showing the position of top weight bar (on vertical axis) with respect to time (on horizontal axis). This data can be used to calculate velocity, acceleration, deceleration, hold (standstill) etc. of the weight stack and thereby obtain all workout related parameters.

Figure 5 shows sensor network arrangement examples in a gym equipment using weight-bar column. Figure 5 (a) and (b) show sensor network arrangement based on the principle described in Figure 3 (1 ). Figure 5 (c) and (d) shows sensor network arrangement based on the principle described in Figure 3 (2). Figure 5 (d) also shows a special situation where the source and the sensor are located at the top in order to capture the distance and thereby the position of the top weight-bar, velocity, acceleration etc. A possible example could be an electronic ranging module (acoustic or electromagnetic ) that sends and receives the reflected signal from the top weight-bar. Based on how much time it takes to receive the sent signal, the CIP can determine the location of the top weight-bar. The velocity (and acceleration) of the top weight-bard can be determined by comparing the location of the top weight- bar at different time instances and/or by using Doppler effect (or similar method) and/or using any other suitable method.

Another special approach to determine the workout parameters of a gym equipment, e.g. a gym equipment using weight-bars, is to perform image analysis. By comparing images captured at different time instances, as shown in Figure 6 (a), (b) and (c), all workout parameters e.g. weight, velocity, acceleration etc can be determine. An example of such implementation could be an optical camera that is continuously capturing the motion of the gym equipment.

The approach, using image analysis, can be used in all other workouts. A number of workouts or gym equipments are practically infeasible to digitize. An example would be to dumbbells. By performing image analysis and comparing images captured at different time instances, all workout

parameters e.g. weight, velocity, acceleration, cycles etc can be determined.

The CIP can also interface with the image capturing device (e.g.

camera) and perform image analysis to determine the different workout parameters.

In another aspect of the invention, one or more CIPs can be connected in network to a local server called gym server. The local gym server comprises computer platform, user identification module such as RFID, communication module and local data storage for temporary use and/or local database. Figure 7 shows the gym server.

In local gym server, the computer platform comprises at least one processing unit (microprocessor and/or microcontroller) and able to run programs/software, process, structure, compress and/or encrypt data and/or control other adjacent blocks. The RFID module can be used to identify users, read and/or write RFID cards/tags. The module can also interface and exchange information other NFC enabled devices. The local data storage can be used to store data temporarily to process, structure, compress and/or encrypt data and/or transmit the data to another device, e.g. a remote server. The local storage can also be used to store structured data for longer period in the form of database for gym users or others to access.

The local gym server is runs an customized software that polls and performs data transfer from the CIPs that are connected to it. Upon initiating a session by a gym user at CIP fitted gym equipment, the CIP communicates with the gym server and handshakes with the CIP's ID and can ask for information such as date, time etc. All workout data are transferred from the CIP to the local gym server which can, for instance, process, structure, compress and/or encrypt data. The local server pushes the data into an online remote server. Alternatively, structured data is stored in the database of the local gym server. While communicating with CIPs, the intelligent software performs secure communication, bandwidth efficient, and a self error detection mechanism. The remote server receives the data and performs mathematical computations in order to process, compress and structure the data.

The workout data from gym equipment, fitted with CIP and sensor network, can be transmitted to a remote server directly and/or through the local gym server. The remote server, shown in Figure 8, comprises computer platform(s), database and software. The computer platform(s) could be at a single or multiple geographical locations and can optionally be cloud networked.

According to the present invention, the remote server also enables users to securely logon to their personal site and review progress and results with intended details. The database contains workout data, login credentials and other information. Software, running on remote server, can handle, structure, analyze the received workout data and present the intended data through user interface(s) e.g. a webpage, app etc. Furthermore, the remote server can also provide data presentation for gym administration in order to view the usage, popularity etc. of gym equipments.

Figure 9 shows an example of the complete implementation utilizing the solutions presented in this document. The figure shows the CIP is interfaced with the sensor network and gym server while the gym server further can connect and communicate with a remote server.

Figure 10 shows another example of the complete implementation utilizing the solutions presented in this document. In this case, the user can collect the workout data directly to the RFID card/tag or NFC enabled devices. The user can collect the data either from the CIP or from the gym server. One aspect of such implementation is to use the RFID card/tag or NFC enabled devices to store the workout data from the CIP and transfer the data to the gym server before leaving the gym. In this way the gym server may not need to communicate with the CIP. Furthermore, if the data is stored on an NFC enabled device that is capable to connect to the internet, the workout data can directly be pushed into the remote server.

Figure 1 1 shows yet another example of the complete implementation utilizing the solutions presented in this document. In this case, a NFC enabled device is used to collect the workout data. The workout data, collected by the device, can either be transferred to the gym server or can be pushed into the remote server as described in Figure 10. Furthermore, application software (app) can be run the NFC enabled device to display real-time workout data and/or statistics and/or other information.

Figure 12 shows a possible implementation of the complete setup for real-time display of the workout data. The workout data can be visualized by a suitable device (monitor, TV, handheld devices etc.) and the data can be collected real-time from the CIP or the gym server or from the local server. A possible application of such implementation would a group training session where users can see their workout details real-time. Furthermore, the CIP can also interface with wired/wireless devices, e.g. heart rate monitor. The implementation, shown in Figure 12, makes it possible to display parameters such as heart rate etc. along with the real-time workout information. Figure 13 shows a possible networking implementation. In the figure, GE is gym equipment and GS is gym server. Each GE is fitted with CIP and the CIP is wired/wirelessly connected to the GS. A gym can have one or more GS. The GS can be further connected to a remote server through internet. Figure 13 shows such implementation of 2 gyms, each having 2 GS.

As mentioned earlier, CIP can also communicate with the remote server directly through the internet. Figure 14 shows such implementation of 2 gyms where each GE is fitted with CIP and all CIP are directly connected to the internet.

EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS

Fitness industry: An important application for this interfacing platform technology system is in the field of data acquisition of gym equipment and display of data in a webform or in the form of an app in mobile.

Medical treatments: Research in the direction of medical treatment such as rehabilitation, physiotherapy, performance enhancement process for parts/organs of body. It could be also used in the direction synthetic muscle development in lab.

Claims

1 . A CIP system interfacing platform comprising: a hardware architecture to enable interfacing (data exchange) with at least one of the followings in order to grant access (e.g. privilege, time restricted, pay per use or in any other form ), monitor the workout details of a particular gym equipment by a particular gym user and store and/or present the intended data. data acquisition sensors network

NFC enabled devices (e.g. smartphones)

RFID card

local gym server (wired/wirelessly connected)

remote server (wired/wirelessly connected)

miscellaneous wired/wireless devices

miscellaneous display (wired/wireless) devices

image capturing devices

any combination of the above

2. according to claim 1 , the CIP itself comprising:

at least one processing module

at least one RFID/NFC module

at least one communication module (wired/wireless)

at least one memory module and

at least one power management module to provide and/or control power to the connected modules

at least one I/O module

Variations of CIP may also include any of the followings:

at least one payment handling system

at least one gym equipment control module

at least one auditory and/or visual indicator for gym equipment usage

3. A sensor network hardware platform, positioned stationary to detect at least one object with respect to time and thereby determine the position, velocity and acceleration of at least one object, comprising:

at least one sensor

Variations may include any of the followings:

at least one source

at least one integrated source with sensor

at least one multiplexing module 4. According to claim 3,

the sensor network is interfaced with the CIP wired or wirelessly the sensor network arrangement comprising line of sight method the sensor network arrangement comprising reflection based method the sensor network arrangement comprising proximity based method the sensor network arrangement comprising at least one image capturing device

5. A method of communicating between a CIP platform and a plurality of servers, the method comprising:

identifying the plurality of servers, wherein each of the plurality of servers comprises a set of gym equipment and parameters and an object- specific interface protocol, wherein at least one object-specific interface protocol differs from at least one other object-specific interface protocol;

creating a plurality of user-specific data structures, wherein at least one of the plurality of user-specific data structures is initiated by positioning a unique user identification device close to the gym equipment,

using the plurality of nonobject-specific data structures created, the object-specific interface protocols into a single nonobject-specific interface protocol for communicating between the CIP platform and the plurality of objects

6. A computerized gym user interface comprising:

a CIP enabled server system wherein CIP server collects gym usage data wherein

the data is collected through a sensor network mounted in at least one gym equipment wherein

a secure unique user identification device is used to initiate recording and transmitting of the data and

a log in interface where the user can login through a secure unique digital identification code to retrieve data

7. A digitized gym system comprising:

a display displaying images and retrieving user input in response to a user using a gym equipment;

a network interface for establishing a network connection with a gym cloud server initiating data recording in response to positioning the user unique identification device close to the gym equipment,

the gym cloud server acquiring data and transmitting the interactive acquired data over the network to a display,

a CIP enabled server including memory to store program code and to create interactive graphical user interface.