WO2018080893A1

WO2018080893A1 - Overlaying exercise information on a remote display

Info

Publication number: WO2018080893A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/057414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric S. Watterson
Original assignee: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
Priority date: 2016-10-26
Filing date: 2017-10-19
Publication date: 2018-05-03
Also published as: TW201815444A; US20180111034A1; CN109890470A

Abstract

An exercise machine may include a frame, a movable element movably connected to the frame and movable during a performance of an exercise, a transmitter in communication with a media system, the media system having a receiver and a display in communication with the receiver and capable of depicting video content received through the receiver, a processor, and a memory having programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send data relating to the exercise to the receiver to be depicted over the video content during the performance of the exercise.

Description

OVERLAYING EXERCISE INFORMATION ON A REMOTE DISPLAY

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 62/412,952 titled "Overlying Exercise Information on a Remote Display" and filed on October 26, 2016, which application is herein incorporated by reference for all that it discloses.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Aerobic exercise is a popular form of exercise that improves one's cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and providing other benefits to the human body. Aerobic exercise generally involves low intensity physical exertion over a long duration of time. Typically, the human body can adequately supply enough oxygen to meet the body's demands at the intensity levels involved with aerobic exercise. Popular forms of aerobic exercise include running, jogging, swimming, and cycling, among other activities. In contrast, anaerobic exercise typically involves high intensity exercises over a short duration of time. Popular forms of anaerobic exercise include strength training and short distance running.

[0003] Many choose to perform aerobic exercises indoors, such as in a gym or their home. Often, a user will use an aerobic exercise machine to have an aerobic workout indoors. One type of aerobic exercise machine is a treadmill, which is a machine that has a running deck attached to a support frame. The running deck can support the weight of a person using the machine. The running deck incorporates a conveyor belt that is driven by a motor. A user can run or walk in place on the conveyor belt by running or walking at the conveyor belt's speed. The speed and other operations of the treadmill are generally controlled through a control module that is also attached to the support frame and within a convenient reach of the user. The control module can include a display, buttons for increasing or decreasing a speed of the conveyor belt, controls for adjusting a tilt angle of the running deck, or other controls. Other popular exercise machines that allow a user to perform aerobic exercises indoors include elliptical trainers, rowing machines, stepper machines, and stationary bikes, to name a few.

[0004] One type of treadmill is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0059079 issued to Eric S. Watterson, et al. This reference includes a description of an exercise machine that sends parameters of the exercise machine to a media content source, a third party, a display device, or another destination. These parameters may reflect the speed at which the user is going, a physiological condition of the user, a distance traveled by the user, another parameter, or combinations thereof. Such information may be used to compare the user with other users who are also using a fitness program. For example, the user may be using the fitness program while watching a cycling race and may have traveled a certain distance within a predetermined amount of time. This distance may be compared with the distances of others using the fitness program of those depicted in the media content within the same time frame. In other examples, the time is measured for how long it takes for the user to achieve a certain milestone, such as reaching a predetermined checkpoint. The times of the different users and/or the cyclists depicted in the media content may be depicted on the display screen. In some cases, at least one aspect of the user is depicted in the display screen. For example, the user's time may be compared to the top cyclist's time in the media content by showing the cyclist's times with the user's time.

SUMMARY

[0005] In one embodiment, an exercise machine may include a frame, a movable element movably connected to the frame and movable during a performance of an exercise, a transmitter in communication with a media system, the media system having a receiver and a display in communication with the receiver and capable of depicting video content received through the receiver, a processor, and a memory having programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send data relating to the exercise to the receiver to be depicted on the display over the video content during the performance of the exercise.

[0006] The frame may be without a console.

[0007] The receiver may be a streaming device.

[0008] The receiver may have a universal serial connection that may be receivable in a port of the display.

[0009] The movable element may be a tread belt.

[0010] The movable element may be a crank pedal.

[0011] The data may include a duration time of the exercise. [0012] The data may include a physiological parameter of a user during the performance of the exercise.

[0013] The data may include a speed of the exercise.

[0014] The data may include an identification of the exercise machine.

[0015] In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a display, a receiver in

communication with the display, a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may cause the processor to receive real time data from an exercise machine independent of the display and present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display.

[0016] The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to make the overlay semi-transparent.

[0017] The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to perform an analysis on the video content. The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to determine where to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis.

[0018] Performing an analysis the video content may include determining points of interest in the video content.

[0019] Determining where to present the overlay may include presenting the overlay in a region of the display without the points of interest.

[0020] The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to buffer the real time data while determining where to present the real time data in the display.

[0021] The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to receive additional real time data from a second exercise machine. The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to present at least some of the additional real time data in the overlay in the video content.

[0022] The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to perform an analysis on the video content. The instructions, when executed, may cause the processor to determine how to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis. [0023] Some examples may further include making the overlay a color that contrasts with a back ground of the video content.

[0024] In one embodiment, a method may include receiving real time data from an exercise machine while presenting video content in a display, buffering the real time data while performing an analysis of the video content, determining a color to present the data over the video content based on the analysis, determining where to present the data in the display based on the analysis, and presenting at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a system for presenting exercise information in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 2 depicts an example of a display in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 3 depicts an example of a system for presenting exercise information in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a block diagram of an exercise machine in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 5 depicts an example of a block diagram of a media system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 6 depicts an example of a method for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts an example of a method for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 8 depicts an example of a method for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "aligned" means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "transverse" means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term "length" means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term "width" means the dimension of an object from side to side. Often, the width of an object is transverse the object's length.

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a treadmill 100 that includes a deck 102 and a frame 104. A front pulley is connected to a front portion of the deck 102, and a rear pulley is connected to a rear portion of the deck 102. A tread belt 106 surrounds the front pulley and the second pulley. A motor (not shown) can drive either the front pulley or the rear pulley and cause the tread belt 106 to move along a surface of the deck 102.

[0035] In this example, the treadmill 100 include a transmitter 107 that is in

communication with a media system 108. In this example, the media system 108 includes a remote display 1 10. The media system 108 also includes a receiver 1 12 that is in

communication with the treadmill 100. The media system 108 is capable of depicting video content received through the receiver 112. In some cases, the media system 108 is also capable of depicting content from other sources, such as a broadcasted source or a portable digital media source.

[0036] The treadmill 100 may also include a processor and memory. The memory may include programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send data relating to the exercise performed with the exercise machine to the media system 108. The media system may depict at least a portion of the data received from the treadmill 100 in the remote display 1 10 of the media system 108.

[0037] In this example, the treadmill does not include a console with a console display. Rather, the data that is conventionally depicted in a console display is depicted in a remote display 1 10 of the media system 108. This data can be depicted in the remote display 1 10 with content from other sources.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a remote display 200 of the media system 202. In this example, the remote display 200 is depicting broadcasted content of a cycling race, such as the Tour de France. The media system 202 includes an analyzer that determines where on the remote display 200 to depict the exercise data from the exercise machine. In this example, the broadcasted content includes a racer 204 in a central portion 206 of the remote display 200. As a result, the analyzer may determine that overlaying the exercise data on the central portion 206 of the remote display 200 may interfere with user's enjoyment of viewing the broadcasted content. A peripheral portion 208 of the remote display 200 depicts an environment of the broadcasted content that is less likely to be a focus of the user's attention. The analyzer may determine to overlay the exercise data in the peripheral portion 208 of the remote display so that the exercise data is available to the user, but does not interfere with the portions of the broadcasted data that are most likely to have the user's focus.

[0039] In this example, the exercise data is overlayed in the peripheral portion 208 of the display screen. A first set 210 of exercise data includes information relating to a first exercise machine identified with a first identifier 212 reciting T23. The exercise information associated with exercise machine T23 includes an exercise duration of 20 minutes and 34 seconds, a heart rate of 142 beats per minute, a speed of 3.2 miles per hour, and calorie burn of 345 calories. A second set 214 of exercise data includes information from a second exercise machine identified with a second identifier 216 reciting B 14. In this example, the second set of exercise data is associated with a stationary bike also in communication with the media system. In some environments, such as a gym, multiple exercise machines may be in communication with the same media system and have exercise data depicted on the same remote display 200. In this example, the second set 214 of data includes an exercise duration of 15 minutes and 5 seconds, a heart rate of 130 beats per minute, a speed of 13.6 miles per hour, and a calorie burn of 217 calories.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a stationary bike 300 in communication with a media system 302. In this example, the stationary bike is without a console and the exercise data that is conventionally depicted in the bike console is depicted in the remote display 304 of the media system 302.

[0041] In this example, the stationary bike 300 includes a seat 306 and a crank assembly 308. The crank assembly 308 includes a crank axle 3 10 with a first crank arm 3 12 connected to a first side of the crank axle 310, and a second crank arm (not shown) connected to a second crank arm (not shown). A first pedal 3 14 is connected to the first crank arm 3 12, and a second pedal (not shown) is connected to the second arm.

[0042] A resistance mechanism is incorporated into the stationary bike 300. The resistance mechanism resists the movement of the crank axle 3 10 and therefore resists movement of the first and second pedals. [0043] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an example of an exercise machine 400 including a device 405 that supports overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0044] Device 405 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including processor 406, I/O controller 410, and memory 415. The memory 415 may also include at least one physiological analyzer 430, an operational parameter analyzer 435, a timer 440, machine identifier information 445, and a sending component 450. The memory 415 may also be in communication with a physiological sensor 432, an operational parameter sensor 437, another type of sensor, or combinations thereof.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a media system 500 including a device 505 in communication with an exercise machine 555 that supports overlaying exercise information on a remote screen 560 in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Device 505 may be an example of a media system as described above, e.g., with reference to FIG. 1.

[0046] Device 505 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including processor 515, I/O controller 520, and memory 525, communicating via a communications bus 510. Memory 525 may also include a presenter 530, a buffering component 535, a coloring component 540, a locator 545, and an analyzer 550.

[0047] The presenter 530 may present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented in the display, present at least some of the additional real time data in the overlay in the video content, determine how to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis, and/or present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.

[0048] The buffering component 535 may buffer the real time data while determining where to present the data in the display and buffer the real time data while performing an analysis of the video content.

[0049] The coloring component 540 may make the overlay semi-transparent, make the overlay a color that contrasts with a back ground of the video content, and/or determine a color to present the data over the video content based on the analysis. [0050] The locator 545 may determine where to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis. In some cases, determining where to present the overlay includes presenting the overlay in a region of the display without the points of interest where the user is likely to focus his or her attention.

[0051] The analyzer 550 may perform an analysis on the video content. In some cases, performing an analysis the video content includes determining the dynamic locations of points of interest in the video content.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 600 for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 600 may be implemented by a media system or its components as described herein. In some examples, a media system may execute a set of codes to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the media system may perform aspects the functions described below using special-purpose hardware. At block 605, the media system may receive real time data from an exercise machine. At block 610, the media system may present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 700 for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 700 may be implemented by a media system or its components as described herein. At block 705, the media system may receive real time data from an exercise machine. At block 710, the media system may perform an analysis on the video content. At block 715, the media system may determine where to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis. At block 720, the media system may buffer the real time data while determining where to present the data in the display. At block 725, the media system may present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display. At block 730, the media system may receive additional real time data from a second exercise machine. At block 735, the media system may present at least some of the additional real time data in the overlay in the video content.

[0054] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 800 for overlaying exercise information on a remote display in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 800 may be implemented by a media system or its components as described herein. In some examples, a media system may execute a set of codes to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the media system may perform aspects the functions described below using special-purpose hardware. At block 805, the media system may receive real time data from an exercise machine while presenting video content in a display. At block 810, the media system may buffer the real time data while performing an analysis of the video content. At block 815, the media system may determine a color to present the data over the video content based on the analysis. At block 820, the media system may determine where to present the data in the display based on the analysis. At block 825, the media system may present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0055] In general, the invention disclosed herein may provide users with an exercise machine and a media system that allows the user to view exercise related data on a remote display. In some cases, the exercise machine includes a transceiver that sends the exercise data to a media system that is mechanically independent of the exercise machine. In those examples where the exercise machine does not include a display, the exercise information that is conventionally depicted in the console display can be depicted in the remote display. In settings like a gym, multiple exercise machines can be in communication with the media system. In this type of example, information from multiple exercise machines can be presented in a single display. The remote display does not have to be entirely dedicated to presenting information from the exercise machines. Rather, the remote display can present content from other sources and overlay the exercise information on the content being presented in the display. In one example, the media system is presenting content from a broadcasting source or a portable digital medium and the exercise information is overlayed on a portion of the remote display that minimally interferes with the content.

[0056] The exercise machine may include a frame, a movable element, a transmitter, a processor, a memory, and a receiver. The frame may support the movable element, a resistance element, other components of the exercise machine, or combinations thereof. The frame may include a base that supports the exercise machine on a support surface, such as a floor. In some embodiments, the frame includes an upright structure. The upright structure may be connected to the base. In some instances, a console is connected to the upright right structure. The console may or may not include a display that depicts exercise information. In alternative embodiments, the frame is without a console.

[0057] In those examples where the exercise machine includes a console display, the console display may depict information about the user, the operational parameters of the treadmill, entertainment, other features, or combinations thereof. In those examples with a console display, the console display may depict redundant content to the content depicted in the remote display. In some circumstance, the console display and the remote display may depict duplicate images of each other, depict some overlapping content, or depict no overlapping content.

[0058] In those examples where the exercise machine is without a console, the exercise machine may be less expensive to manufacture, move, set up, transport, or combinations thereof. Thus, the manufacturing costs, maintenance costs, and transporting costs may be reduced. The cost reduction may be passed to those with gym memberships or the gym realize a greater profit. The media system used in the gym can provide the display that presents to the user their exercise information.

[0059] Any appropriate type of exercise machine may be used. A non-exhaustive list of exercise machines that may be used according to the principles described in the present disclosure include treadmills, stationary bicycles, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, stepper machines, pull cable machines, anaerobic lifting machines, jumping machines, squatting machines, other types of machines, or combinations thereof.

[0060] The exercise machines may include a movable element that moves with the performance of the exercise. For example, a tread belt may be a movable element that moves due to a user performing a workout on the exercise machine. In another example, the components of a crank assembly; such as a crank pedal, a crank arm, and a crank axle; and/or the components of a resistance mechanism, such as a flywheel, may move due to the performance of an exercise on certain types of exercise machines such as stationary bicycles and elliptical trainers.

[0061] In example where the exercise machine is a treadmill. The treadmill may include a deck and a base frame. A front pulley may be connected to a front portion of the deck, and a rear pulley may be connected to a rear portion of the deck. A tread belt surrounds the front pulley and the second pulley. A motor can drive either the front pulley or the rear pulley and cause the tread belt to move along a surface of the deck. The speed of the tread belt may be adjustable based on the motor's output. In some cases, the user can select the tread belt's speed through an input incorporated into the treadmill.

[0062] In some examples, the treadmill includes an incline mechanism that is integrated into the base and controls an elevation of the front portion of the deck. The rear portion of the deck is connected to the base at a pivot connection. As the incline mechanism changes the elevation of the front portion of the deck, the rear portion of the deck remains connected to the base, thus, the front portion of the deck inclines with respect to the base.

[0063] In some examples, the treadmill includes an upright structure that is connected to the base. In these example, the upright structure includes a first post and a second post. The first post and the second post may include a console. The console may include an input mechanism that controls an operational parameter of the treadmill. In some cases, the console includes a cooling mechanism (e.g. fan), speakers, microphones, sensors, other features, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the console includes a display.

[0064] In examples where the exercise machine is a stationary bike, the exercise machine may include a seat and a crank assembly. The crank assembly includes a crank axle with a first crank arm connected to a first side of the crank axle, and a second crank arm connected to a second crank arm. A first pedal is connected to the first crank arm, and a second pedal is connected to the second arm.

[0065] A resistance mechanism may be incorporated into the stationary bike. The resistance mechanism may resists the movement of the crank axle and therefore resist movement of the first and second pedals. In some cases, the resistance mechanism includes a flywheel that is resisted from rotating. The resistance to the rotation may be generated magnetically with a magnetic unit located proximate the flywheel. To increase the amount of resistance to the flywheel's rotation, the magnetic unit may be moved closer to the flywheel or the strength of the magnetic flux may be increased. To decrease the amount of resistance to the flywheel's rotation, the magnetic unit may be moved farther away from the flywheel or the strength of the magnetic flux may be decreased. However, any appropriate type of stationary bicycle may be used in accordance with the principles described in the present disclosure. For example, the stationary bicycle may include a magnetic resistance mechanism, a pneumatic resistance mechanism, a hydraulic resistance mechanism, a gear type resistance mechanism, a pair of braking pads, a tensioning element, a fan blade, another type of resistance mechanism, or combinations thereof. [0066] The exercise machine may collect data about the user's physiological condition during the performance of an exercise. In some cases, sensors are incorporated into the exercise machine to gather specific types of physiological information about the user. These sensors may be located on the exercise machine where the user comes into contact with the exercise machine. For example, an electrical contact that is part of a heart rate monitoring system may be incorporated into hand rails, handles, or other types of supports incorporated into the exercise machine. The electrical contacts may detect electrical pulses transmitted through the user's body during the exercise, and these measurements may be used to determine the user's heart rate.

[0067] In some cases, a camera may be incorporated into the exercise machine or be located proximate the exercise machine. The camera may be used to detect physiological conditions of the user. For example, the camera may be used to determine the user's respiration rate, the user's stride, the user's technique, other information about the user's exercise performance, or combinations thereof.

[0068] In some cases, pressure sensors may be incorporated into the exercise machine to determine the forces imposed by the user. For example, pressure sensors may be incorporated into a pedal of the exercise machine to determine the force that the user is applying the crank assembly. In other examples, the pressure sensor is incorporated into a deck of the treadmill and can be used to determine the user's weight.

[0069] In other examples, the exercise machine is in wired or wireless communication with physiological sensors attached to the user. For example, the user may wear a heart rate monitor, a respiration monitor, a pulse oximetry monitor, an accelerometer, a pedometer, an activity tracker, another type of physiological monitor, or combinations thereof to determine physiological information about the user. This information may be sent to the exercise machine. Sending these types of information to the exercise machine before sending it to the media system provides the benefit of simplifying the process of associating the physiological information with the appropriate exercise machine. For example, all information sent from an exercise machine with an identifier of T23 can be associated with that exercise machine on the remote display. In other examples, the physiological monitors attached to the user can be associated with the exercise machine by receiving an associated identifier.

[0070] In some cases, the raw data gathered with the exercise machine is processed before it is sent to the media system. In these examples, the data may be compressed, filtered, or otherwise modified for transmission. In some cases, multiple types of inputs are received to determine a particular type of data. The inputs may be used to calculate the desired type of information before sending it to the media system. In one example involving a treadmill, the user's weight, the duration of the exercise, the speed of the exercise, and an incline angle of the exercise deck may be used to determine a calorie burn amount. This calorie burn amount may be determined at the exercise machine before sending the information to the media system. In other examples, the media system may include processing hardware and memory with programmed instructions to calculate the calorie count after receiving the raw data from the exercise machine and/or wearable physiological monitors.

[0071] The exercise machine may also include sensors and/or other mechanisms that determine the operational parameters of the exercise machine during the performance of an exercise. For example, a sensor may be used to determine the incline angle of the deck on a treadmill, or a sensor may be used to determine the amount of resistance applied to a flywheel. The raw data collected from these sensors or processed data based on these sensors' raw data may be sent to the media system. In other examples, an incline mechanism is instructed to set the incline angle at a specific angle. In this example, the incline mechanism can report the angle at which it was instructed to orient the deck. Likewise, a resistance mechanism may be instructed to set the resistance at a specific resistance level, and the resistance mechanism can report the resistance level at which it was instructed to apply to the flywheel. These reported parameters can be sent to the media system. In some cases, processed information based on these reported amounts can be sent to the media system. Other types of parameters that can be sent to the media system or other types of processed information based on these parameters may include a speed of a tread belt, an incline angle of a deck, a duration of an exercise, a resistance level applied to a flywheel and/or a crank assembly, a resistance level applied to an anaerobic lifting machine, a mode of the exercise machine, a type of exercise performed with the exercise machine, a stride length of the exercise machine, a lateral tilt angle of an tread deck, another type of operational parameter, or combinations thereof.

[0072] The exercise machine may include a transmitter. The transmitter may be in communication with a media system. The media system may have a receiver that receives the data from the exercise machine's transmitter. A display of the media system may be in communication with the receiver and is capable of depicting video content received through the receiver. The transmitter and receiver may use any appropriate type of communication protocol in accordance with the principles described in the present disclosure. Such protocols may include standard wireless protocols, protocols used by Bluetooth® technologies, Wi-Fi protocols, Z-wave protocols, Zigbee protocols, other types of wireless protocols, or combinations thereof.

[0073] The memory incorporated into the exercise machine may have programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send data relating to the exercise to the receiver. At least some of the data sent to the media system may be depicted over the video content during the performance of the exercise. In some cases, the data includes a duration time of the exercise, a physiological parameter of a user during the performance of the exercise, a heart rate, a respiration rate, a blood pressure, an oxygen gas exchange rate, a calorie burn, an identification of the exercise machine, a resistance level, a speed of the tread belt, an incline angle of the deck, a mode of the exercise machine, another operational parameter, another physiological condition of the user, other types of information relating to the exercise, or combinations thereof.

[0074] The media system may include a receiver and a remote display. The remote display may be incorporated into television set, a digital device, a computer, a mobile device, a plasma television, a cable television, a satellite television, an over-the-air television, another type of device with a display, or combinations thereof. The media system may present content from sources other than from the exercise machine. In one example, the media system may depict broadcasted data and overlay at least a portion of the data from the exercise machine over the broadcasted data.

[0075] The media system may present at least a portion of the data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display, buffer the real time data while performing an analysis of the video content, determine a color to present the data over the video content based on the analysis, determine where to present the data in the display based on the analysis, and present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.

[0076] The media system may include any appropriate type of receiver. In some examples, the receiver is a streaming receiver, a set-top box, an information appliance, other types of receivers, or combinations thereof. In one example, the receiver can plug into a port of a display. The port may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a video graphics array (VGA) port, another type of port, or combinations thereof. An example of a commercially available receiver that may be compatible with the media system described herein is Chromecast available from Google, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California, U.S.A. Another example of a

commercially available receiver that may be compatible with the media system described herein is Fire TV Stick available from Amazon, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. Yet another example of a commercially available receiver that may be compatible with the media system described herein is Streaming Stick available from Roku, Inc., headquartered in Los Gatos, California, U.S.A.

[0077] The media system may include a combination of hardware and programmed instructions for executing the functions of the media system. In this example, the media system includes processing resources that are in communication with memory resources. Processing resources include at least one processor and other resources used to process programmed instructions. The memory resources represent generally any memory capable of storing data such as programmed instructions or data structures used by the media system. The programmed instructions stored in the memory resources include an analyzer, a locator, a coloring component, a buffering component, and a presenter.

[0078] The analyzer may perform an analysis on the video content that is presented in the display from sources other than the exercise machine. In some cases, performing an analysis of the video content includes determining points of interest in the video content. For example, the video content may include actors and features where the viewers are likely to focus their attention. Generally, these actors and features are located in central portions of the display, but not always. Further, some peripheral regions of the display may also include actors and features of the video content that are intended to draw the user's focus. In some cases, portions of the display's peripheral region include environmental content that gives context to the actors and other features of the video content, but are not intended to draw the user's focus, such as a score banner, timer, breaking news, and the like.

[0079] In some examples, the analyzer includes a recognition program that can recognize the colors, shapes, and patterns that indicate the depiction of an actor or other features that would draw the user's attention. These shapes, patterns, and colors may be determined based on the color values of each of the pixels of the display. In other examples, the video content includes metadata that indicates which areas of the display have points of interest and which areas of the display will not have points of interest associated with timestamps. The analyzer may read this metadata.

[0080] The analyzer may perform its analysis in real time as the video content is streamed to the display. In those examples where the video content is from a portable digital medium, the video content may be analyzed before the content is presented in the display.

[0081] The analyzer may provide input in real time to the locator and the coloring component about the portions of the video content that are intended to draw the user's focus and those portions that are not intended to draw the user's focus. Further, the analyzer may determine the colors and patterns of those regions.

[0082] The locator may determine where to present the exercise information in the display based on the analysis. In some cases, determining where to present the exercise information includes identifying regions of the display without the points of interest, such as the actors and other features intended to draw the user's attention. The locator may select regions in the display that are not intended to draw the user's focus such as portions of the display that merely depict the actor's environment.

[0083] The coloring component may determine the coloring and/or transparency of the depicted exercise information. The coloring component may determine the color based on the background color and/or colors of the location selected to depict the exercise information. In some cases, the exercise information may be presented in a color that contrasts with the background color so that the exercise information is easy to see. In some examples, the colors presented in the overlay are complementary colors to the background colors of the video content.

[0084] In some instances, the coloring component may cause the exercise information to be depicted with some transparency so that the viewer can see what is occurring within the location that depicts the exercise information. In some cases, the coloring component may cause the exercise information to be depicted with between a zero percent transparency to 90 percent. In other examples, the exercise information is depicted between a 25 percent transparency to 75 percent transparency.

[0085] The buffering component may buffer the real time data from the exercise machine while determining where to present the data in the display. The process of analyzing the video content, determining the location to present the exercise information, and determining the color of the exercise information may take a some processing time. Thus, buffering the excise information so that it is presented in near real time verses actual real time may allow the media system to better locate and color the exercise information to give the user a better overall experience. In some examples, no buffering component is used.

[0086] In some examples, the presentation of the exercise data is delayed by the buffering component is less than 5 seconds. In other examples, the delay is less than a second. In some cases, the delay is less than 100 microseconds.

[0087] The presenter may present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display, present at least some of the additional real time data in the overlay in the video content, determine how to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis, and present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.

[0088] The overlay may involve any appropriate technique used to display exercise information on the display while bypassing the display's central processing unit and graphics card. This may allow the media system to present the overlay without interruption, and the overlay may be presented in a layer at the foreground to the video content. In this example, the overlay may be presented in a first layer and the video content is displayed in a second layer where the first layer is in the foreground and the second layer is in the background.

[0089] In some cases, the overlay includes an overlay window that includes the exercise information. The overlay may be moved to different regions of the display as the video content changes. For example, as the video content changes between scenes, the actors or other features in the display may change location within the screen, which may promote a change in the overlay's location. Further, the actors and other features in the display may move around also prompting an overlay location change. In some examples, the presenter modifies the video content's signals and inserts the exercise information overlay into the picture. In this example, the rest of the display is filled by the signals for the video content. In some cases, a technique is implemented that writes the exercise information to a dedicated part of video memory, rather than to the part shared by all applications. In this way, the overlay is controlled by the graphics hardware rather than by a central processing unit. The presenter may also use a technique using an overlay layer to present the exercise information.

[0090] The different functions of the media system may be implemented with a processor and programmed instructions in memory. In some examples, the certain aspects of the media system's functions are executed with a customized circuit. Likewise the different functions of the exercise machine may be implemented with a processor and programmed instructions in memory. In some examples, the certain aspects of the exercise machine's functions are executed with a customized circuit.

[0091] The processors may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processors may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor. The processor may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to perform various functions (e.g., function or tasks supporting overlaying exercise information on a remote display).

[0092] An I/O controller may manage input and output signals for the media system and/or the exercise machine. Input/output control components may also manage peripherals not integrated into these devices. In some cases, the input/output control component may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, I/O controller may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system.

[0093] Memory may include random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). The memory may store computer-readable, computer-executable software including instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, the memory can contain, among other things, a Basic Input-Output system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware and/or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0094] It should be noted that the methods described above describe possible

implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

[0095] Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0096] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0097] The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described above can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

[0098] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general- purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. In some cases, the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. A portable medium, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0099] The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples described herein, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An exercise machine for presenting exercise information, comprising:

a frame;

a movable element movably connected to the frame and movable during a performance of an exercise;

a transmitter in communication with a media system, the media system having a receiver and a display in communication with the receiver and capable of depicting video content received through the receiver;

a processor; and

a memory having programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send data relating to the exercise to the receiver to be depicted on the display over the video content during the performance of the exercise.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the frame is without a console.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a streaming device.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the receiver has a universal serial connection that is receivable in a port of the display.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the movable element is a tread belt.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the movable element is a crank pedal.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the data includes a duration time of the exercise.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the data includes a physiological parameter of a user during the performance of the exercise.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the data includes a speed of the exercise.

10. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the data includes an identification of the exercise machine.

11. An apparatus for presenting exercise information, comprising:

a display;

a receiver in communication with the display;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

receive real time data with the receiver from a remote exercise machine; and present at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over video content being presented on the display;

wherein the video content is received from a video source independent of the exercise machine.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

make the overlay semi-transparent.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

perform an analysis on the video content; and

determine where to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 1 , wherein performing an analysis the video content includes determining points of interest in the video content.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein determining where to present the overlay includes presenting the overlay in a region of the display without points of interest.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

buffer the real time data while determining where to present the real time data in the display.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive additional real time data from a second exercise machine; and

present at least some of the additional real time data in the overlay in the video content.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

perform an analysis on the video content; and

determine how to present the overlay in the display based on the analysis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

make the overlay a color that contrasts with a background of the video content.

20. A method for presenting exercise information, comprising:

receiving real time data from an exercise machine while presenting video content in a display;

buffering the real time data while performing an analysis of the video content;

determining a color to present the real time data over the video content based on the analysis;

determining where to present the real time data in the display based on the analysis; and

presenting at least a portion of the real time data as an overlay over the video content being presented on the display.