Entertainment content-based exercise machine workout intensity control system

Inventors: James Richard Terrell, II (Charlotte, NC); Joshua Rand Terrell (Stockbridge, GA); Micah James Terrell (Newark, CA)

A63B71/0622 A63B22/025 A63B22/0605 A63B24/0075 A63B2024/009 A63B2071/0625 A63B2071/0655

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,685,917
App. No.: 18/112,161
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A computer-implemented method uses entertainment content to automatically control an exercise machine to adjust an intensity of a user workout. A content player plays entertainment content that is presented to a user. The entertainment content is tagged with intensity and timing annotations correlating to attributes of the entertainment content at various points in time. Based on the annotations, a workout manager determines a target workout parameter for each of a plurality of segments of the entertainment content. As the entertainment content is played, the target workout parameter for each respective segment, of the plurality of segments, is provided to an exercise machine. In response to receiving each target workout parameter, an operational aspect of the machine is controlled to adjust an intensity of a user workout for the duration of the respective segment, thereby synchronizing the intensity of the workout with the attributes of the entertainment content.

Claims (30)

1 . A computer-implemented method providing a technical solution to the technical problem of using entertainment content to automatically control an operational aspect of an exercise machine to adjust an intensity of a workout performed by a user, the method comprising:

(a) playing entertainment content via a content player such that the entertainment content is presented to a user, wherein the entertainment content is already tagged with synchronized intensity and timing annotations correlating to attributes of the entertainment content at various points in time;

(b) as the entertainment content is presented to the user, providing the synchronized intensity and timing annotations with which the entertainment content is tagged to a workout manager;

(d) at the workout manager, processing the intensity and timing annotations to determine a target intensity parameter for each of a plurality of segments of the entertainment content;

(e) as the entertainment content is played, providing the target intensity parameter for each respective segment, of the plurality of segments of the entertainment content, to an exercise machine; and

(f) in response to receiving each target intensity parameter for each respective segment, controlling an operational aspect of the exercise machine to adjust an intensity of a workout performed by the user for the duration of the respective segment, thereby synchronizing the intensity of the workout with the attributes of the entertainment content;

(g) wherein the workout manager receives the previously-tagged intensity and timing annotations for the entertainment content and automatically generates a workout experience having various changes in workout intensity based on the annotations and controls the exercise machine in synchronization with the playing of the entertainment content.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the step of processing the intensity and timing annotations to determine a target intensity parameter for each of a plurality of segments of the entertainment content includes independently calculating, by the workout manager, a workout intensity for the segment and converting the workout intensity to the target intensity parameter at least partly based on a particular type of exercise machine chosen by the user.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein controlling an operational aspect of the exercise machine to adjust the intensity of the workout performed by the user includes controlling the physical effort required of the user by the exercise machine.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart cycling trainer, and wherein controlling the physical effort required of the user by the exercise machine includes controlling pedaling resistance of the smart cycling trainer.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart treadmill, and wherein controlling the physical effort required of the user by the exercise machine includes controlling belt speed of the smart treadmill.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart treadmill, and wherein controlling the physical effort required of the user by the exercise machine includes controlling a belt incline of the smart treadmill.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein controlling an operational aspect of the exercise machine includes controlling haptic feedback by the exercise machine to the user.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart cycling trainer, wherein the entertainment content includes immersive video featuring different cycling surfaces, and wherein controlling haptic feedback includes generating different vibration patterns, via the smart cycling trainer, in synchronization with the different cycling surfaces.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein controlling an operational aspect of the exercise machine includes controlling the physical orientation of the exercise machine.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart cycling trainer, and wherein controlling the physical orientation of the exercise machine includes controlling an incline of the smart cycling trainer.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the exercise machine is a smart treadmill, and wherein controlling the physical orientation of the exercise machine includes controlling belt incline of the smart treadmill.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein a desired training zone intensity is correlated to the calculated workout intensity for each segment, and while each respective segment of the entertainment content is presented to the user, the training zone intensity for such segment is displayed to the user.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein, while each respective segment of the entertainment content is presented to the user, the training zone intensity for one or more additional segments of the entertainment content are also simultaneously displayed to the user.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein each training zone intensity is categorized using a fitness model that includes functional threshold power (FTP), training zones, or both.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein each training zone intensity is displayed using a color from a color-coded target intensity parameter range.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of tagging the entertainment content with the intensity and timing annotations via a content tagger.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the step of tagging the entertainment content is carried out during the step of playing the entertainment content.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the step of tagging the entertainment content is carried out ahead of time and the intensity and timing annotations are stored with the entertainment content for later execution of the playing step and the processing step.

19 . A computer-implemented method providing a technical solution to the technical problem of using annotated entertainment content to automatically control an operational aspect of an exercise machine to adjust an intensity of a workout performed by a user, the method comprising:

(a) playing entertainment content via a content player, under control of a workout manager, such that the entertainment content is presented to a user while the user is exercising on an exercise machine of a particular type of the user's choosing;

(b) at the workout manager, receiving, from a content tagger, intensity and timing annotations, associated with the entertainment content, that correlate to attributes of the entertainment content at various points in time;

(c) for each segment of a plurality of segments of the entertainment content, independently calculating, by the workout manager, a target intensity parameter for the segment based on the intensity and timing annotations and based on the particular type of exercise machine chosen by the user; and

(d) as the entertainment content is played, providing the target intensity parameter for each respective segment, of the plurality of segments of the entertainment content, to the exercise machine being used by the user such that an operational aspect of the exercise machine is controlled in order to adjust an intensity of a workout performed by the user for the duration of the respective segment, thereby synchronizing the intensity of the workout with the attributes of the entertainment content.