ITBO990400A1 - TELEMATIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF MACHINES AND GYMNASTICS. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION entitled:

TELEMATIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR GYM MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT.

The present invention relates to the field of gymnastic equipment and machines for training the person for the purpose of physical strengthening, maintaining efficiency and physical well-being, achievement and / or motor rehabilitation and in particular concerns a telematic management system for machines referring to a personalized training program advantageously usable in sports - recreational facilities such as, for example, gyms, fitness centers, sports clubs, rehabilitation centers, clinics and the like.

In these structures (hereinafter defined as gyms for simplicity) it is envisaged that users perform a training program based on repetitive execution in series, through a plurality of gymnastic machines and equipment, of gymnastic or rehabilitative exercises differently customized for each subject, or studied depending on a plurality of specific parameters relating to the type of training or rehabilitation, the user's body, his health conditions, the objectives to be achieved, etc. In practice, these programs define a routine protocol (usually daily), which is often destined to vary over time and according to the results gradually achieved by the person. In practice, each user or athlete is assigned a specific program to be performed during the various training sessions. The various programs differ from each other in the number of exercises, as well as in their succession, repetition, duration and intensity of the same.

To this end, in the gyms, after examining the characteristics of the athlete and the objectives that the same should achieve, the instructor prepares a sequence of exercises, specifying the relative methods of execution for each.

The temporal planning of the work program involves relatively long periods of attendance at the gym for which it is necessary to constantly check the degree of correspondence between the planned program and the program actually performed by the user. Any deviations between the theoretical programming and the actual execution, possibly detected over time, must then be promptly reworked in order to make corrections to the planned program, suitable for achieving the individual's personal objectives over the time schedule set.

In this regard, from some patent documents in the name of the same Applicant, to which reference can be made by way of example, (see documents IT - 1.274.053 and IT - 1.285.622), a system for programming gymnastic activity is known. which allows the exchange of data relating to the current phases of the program between the exercise machine, or an exercise equipment equipped with a suitable terminal, and a central control system programmable according to each user. The exercise machine, or the terminals associated with the exercise equipment that cannot be directly connected to the control system, are connected to the central control system by means of a portable medium (consisting of a programmable memory), through which an exchange of information is obtained. between the central unit and the machines or gymnastic equipment that allows the personalized setting of the machine prior to the execution of the exercise by the user; the portable medium also allows the retroactive storage of data relating to the exercise actually performed and the corresponding updating of the work program for the next training session. As an alternative to this "portable personal card" solution, solutions are provided which use a connection by means of a local telematic network physically implemented by a network of cables suitable for data transmission.

An even more advanced implementation solution of this system is known from patent application No. BOA97000137 also in the name of the same Applicant. This solution provides that a more complex exchange of information takes place between the machine or the exerciser and the central unit, intended to find, in order to program the gymnastic activity, data relating to collateral activities to the strict execution of the exercises and related for example to the user's diet.

The solutions mentioned above fully achieve the general purposes of managing an optimal training program, accurately individualized, and updated in real time according to the specific needs of each user. However, they are open to further improvement in terms of simplifying their physical structure.

In fact, at present, in the case of exercise machines directly connectable to the central unit (such as "bike", "treadmill", "step" etc.), the updating of the initial setting or final feedback data is carried out by means of a telematic network consisting of a physical system of cables which, together with the electrical power supply network of the machines, duplicates the cabling necessary for the physical implementation of these systems.

If, on the other hand, exercise equipment is used, i.e. isotonic machines (such as weight lifting benches with barbells), the data relating to the program to be carried out and the data relating to the program carried out are transmitted by the user to the central unit and vice versa from the central unit to the user by means of a terminal which, also in this case, provides a portable means or a telematic network for the transmission of data and a network for the power supply of the terminals.

The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the telematic management of information related or correctable to the individual; to the exercises of your interest; and, more specifically, his personalized training program; all through a single connection network between the exercise machines and the central unit. ·

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a telematic management system, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in which the telematic network for the transmission and exchange of information between the control stations relating to the individual exercise machines or associated with exercise equipment is physically implemented by the same power supply network, the information exchanged between the exercise machines and the central unit being exchanged in the form of conveyed waves.

The invention has numerous advantages including that of not requiring the provision of telematic wiring inside the gyms; to allow the most free dislocation in the premises of the gymnastic machines and equipment, as well as of the central unit or units: dislocation that can be varied at will even over time.

The electrical network of the building that houses the gym allows you to make any type of local network connection between the various machines and the central unit: in fact, "star" type connections are possible in which all the machines or gymnastic equipment are connected to a single central unit; so-called "ring" network connections or even mixed connections of the so-called "multi-star" type.

If the electrical network outside the building is also used as a telematic network for data transmission, and if the processing unit operates as a concentrator interposed between the exercise machines of the single gym and a "host computer", located in a remote position, it is possible to create a real dedicated network, of the INTRA-NET type, with great cost savings, for the centralized management of information related or correctable to the gymnastic exercises of interest to the users and in particular of the training programs of the users. users of the various gyms distributed over a certain territory; the INTRANET network can then be further evolved to interface with the same global network and INTERNET.

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforementioned purposes, are clearly verifiable from the content of the claims reported below and the advantages thereof will become more evident in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a purely exemplary embodiment. and not limiting, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the invention illustrated by means of functional blocks suitably interconnected to each other;

Figure 2 is a variant embodiment of the invention which provides for the interconnection of the management system with a centralized programming unit located in a remote position with respect to the exercise machines to which the user has access.

With reference to the drawings of the accompanying figures, 1 globally indicates a telematic management system of a personal training program based on repetitive execution in series, through a plurality of machines and / or gymnastic equipment 2, 3, 4, 5 variously combined, of gymnastic exercises differently chosen and customized for each specific user.

The management system 1 essentially comprises (see Figure 1), inside a gym 21, a plurality of control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a; a central information processing unit 6; a telematic network 7 and an electric network 8.

The control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, independent of each other, can be made differently depending on the type of exercise machine and / or exercise equipment. In the exercise machines designed to perform exercises similar to cycling, running and climbing steps respectively (technically called "bike"; "moving walkway" and "step", that is, equipped with an automatic control and command system of the exercise machine) the stations control panels 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a are in fact integrated in the conventional control panel of the machine itself, with the possibility of operating interfacing with the same members that preside over its operation. In gymnastic equipment not included in these types, such as certain isotonic machines (for example of the type comprising a classic bench for weight lifting with a barbell), the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, although arranged in proximity to the equipment, are physically released from this.

The information processing unit 6 is implemented by a computer equipped with software, indicatively but not limited to, specialized for customized training programs according to a wide range of specific parameters for each user of the gym 21. Said processing unit 6 (see figure 1), while remaining physically inside the gym 21, it is centralized and located in a remote position with respect to the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a of the various machines or gymnastic equipment 2, 3, 4, 5.

The telematic network 7 connects the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a with the remote processing unit 6 allowing a bidirectional exchange of information between them and relating to the current implementation of the training program.

The telematic network 7 is integrated and physically supported by the conventional electric network 8 which supplies both the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a of the machines, and those associated with the gymnastic equipment.

Since the information exchanged between the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and the processing unit 6 are conveyed on the electrical network 8 in the form of conveyed waves, no functional interference is created between the transmission of the electrical current and the transmission of information.

The management system described above can be used, for example, for individual use within a personal, home, single-user gym 21.

In the case in which the gym 21 is accessible to different individuals even if belonging to the same family, or more generally it is accessible to a plurality of different users as happens for example for those who go to fitness centers, wellnes, sports clubs, etc. the management system can advantageously be provided with identification means 9 adapted to allow the personal identity of the various users to be recognized and consequently to enable the exchange of information between the machine or the exerciser 2, 3, 4, 5 and the 6 central processing unit.

In a first embodiment, the identification means 9 comprise a portable support which, in its most basic form, can be implemented by a conventional card provided with a magnetic strip in which the user's identification data are stored: card which can be read by a card reader, associated with the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, which in the specific case embodies the aforementioned identification means.

In this case, once the user has been recognized by the system 1, the dialogue between the central processing unit 6 and the exercise machine or exerciser 2, 3, 4, 5 is made possible. This dialogue concerns in particular the sending to the control station 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a of the exercise machine or of the equipment 2, 3, 4, 5 of the configuration parameters corresponding to the work program that the user will have to carry out and, at the end of the exercise, on the other hand, will involve sending from the control station 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a to the central processing unit 6 the parameters relating to the activity actually carried out.

The parameters are then stored in a memory location. reserved for the user within a global memory device belonging to the central processing unit 6.

On the occasion of each subsequent training session, the central processing unit 6 will then detect the parameters relating to the work performed in its last session from the personal memory location of each user; will elaborate them to verify the current degree of correspondence between the planned programming and the activities actually carried out and, according to these elaborations, will then send to the exercise machine a new set of specific parameters for the configuration of the exercise machine or apparatus 2 , 3, 4, 5 prior to operation, after which the operation of the system will always repeat itself with the same logic.

Naturally, in the case of exercise machines equipped with a control and command system, the configuration of the machine can take place with automatic methods; vice versa, in the case of gymnastic equipment where this is not possible, the user will receive the operating instructions directly on the station 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a which, for the purpose, will be equipped with an output device, such as a video, a display or printer.

In the case of gymnastic equipment for which a direct connection with the central processing unit 6 is not possible, the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a also include an input device 10 that can be operated by the user. By means of the input device which can be exemplified indicatively, but not limited to by a keyboard, the user acts as an intermediary between the tool and the central processing unit 6 and, as such, directly enters the management system 1 the information relating to the program actually carried out and receives back from the processing unit 6 the updated information on the execution modalities of the program still to be carried out.

The availability of an input device 10 that can be operated by the user can prove to be advantageous in terms of further simplification of the recognition devices since it is immediate to note that a further diversification of the management system 1 as regards the identification and recognition of the user can be obtained by directly entering a personal alphanumeric code or a password.

Subject to the receipt and recognition of the code, the bidirectional exchange of information will then be activated between the central processing unit 6 and the control station 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a of the machine or exerciser 2, 3, 4, 5 .

Another embodiment of the identification card may finally provide for locating a local memory device (SMART KEY) on the user's personal card.

This local memory, acting as a data buffer, does not make any changes to the operating logic of the management system 1, but allows to reduce the memory requirement of the central processing unit 6 as it allows the storage of data relating to the work. performed by each individual user, at each session, directly on the same local memory.

The invention described above, in addition to fully achieving the purposes of simplifying the constructive implementation of local telematic management systems of individualized training programs, also allows further developments in terms of centralization and globalization of these systems, as well as the exchange of information general character even remotely connected to the gymnastic exercises and work programs of the user.

From figure 2 it is in fact possible to observe that the integration of the telematic network 7 into the electrical network 8 carried out within the building that contains the gym 21 can be further generalized also at the level of a global, external network, which electrically interconnects, in general, the various buildings of a community.

In fact, it is clear that by means of the technique of transmitting information in the form of conveyed waves it is possible to connect a plurality of gyms 21, variously located on a certain territory, more or less vast, with a remote central processing unit 20 possibly located at its location. once in a place physically far from those in which the machines or gymnastic equipment 2, 3, 4, 5 are physically located.

Such a network connection, in which the central processing units 6 of the individual gyms 21 operate this time as concentrators that centralize the activity of several internal low-speed telematic lines 7 and transmit them on a single high-speed telematic line 7a, external and integrated on the external electrical network 8a, they allow to realize a specialized network (INTRANET) for the management of the training programs of a plurality of gyms 21; a network that can obviously also interface with other INTRANET networks of different specialization and, even more generally, with the same global INTERNET network.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of evident industrial application; moreover, it can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Some indicative and non-limiting examples of these variants may concern the location of the control stations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a when these refer specifically to exercise machines. These stations, in fact, in addition to the possibility of being integrated, as mentioned, in the control panel of the related machines 2, 3, 4, 5 can also be located in a remote control unit for the machines themselves. This control unit, not shown in the drawings, could be connected to the processing unit 6 of the single gym 21, or to the remote processing unit 20, which manages the local processing units 6 of a group of blades.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. Telematic management system of a plurality of machines and gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5) through which differently customized exercises are performed for each subject, comprising a plurality of control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) , independent, associated with machines and / or gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5); at least one processing unit (6; 20) of information relating to the exercises located in a remote position with respect to the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a); a telematic network (7; 7a) which connects the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) with the remote processing unit (6; 20) allowing a bidirectional exchange of information between them; an electrical network (8; 8a) that powers the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) of the machines and gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5) and the processing unit (6; 20), characterized in that the telematic network (7; 7a) is physically supported by the same electrical network (8); the information exchanged between the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) and the processing unit (6; 20) being conveyed on the electrical network (8; 8a) in the form of conveyed waves. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises identifying means (9) for recognizing the personal identity of the user and consequently enabling the exchange of information between the machine or the exerciser (2, 3, 4, 5 ) and the processing unit (6; 20). 3. System according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said identification means (9) comprise a portable medium in which the user's personal data are stored. System according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) comprises a data input device (10) by means of which the user exchanges information with the processing unit (6; 20) for customizing the exercises. 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the data input device (10) allows the user to exchange information with the processing unit (6; 20) relating to the exercises actually performed on the machine or tool exerciser (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) associated with the relative control station (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a). 6. System according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the exchange of information between the processing unit (6; 20) and the control station (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) of the machine or exerciser (2, 3, 4, 5) is subject to the entry of a code, personal, identifier of the user. 7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information managed relates to a training program based on the repetitive execution in series of exercises by means of said plurality of machines and gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5). 8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit (6; 20) exchanges with the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) information relating to the preparation and implementation of a individualized training for each user subject. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of gyms (21) individually provided with a plurality of stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) associated with respective exercise machines and / or equipment (2, 3 , 4, 5) and interconnected to a central processing unit (6) operating as an information concentrator and connected in turn, by means of a telematic network (7a) integrated with an electrical network (8a), to a processing unit (20 ) central, remote. 10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) are locally associated with the machines and / or gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5). 11. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) are located in a remote position to the respective machines and / or gymnastic equipment (2, 3, 4, 5 ). System according to claim 11, characterized in that the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) are connected to the local processing unit (6) of the gym (21). 13. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the control stations (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) are connected to the processing unit (20) which manages at least one said gym (21) from a remote position. 14. System according to the preceding claims and according to what is described and illustrated with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings and for the aforementioned purposes.