The present invention relates to an exercise monitoring system, in particular a smart
machine which provides easy monitoring of the exercise performed by the user.
Particularly, the present invention discloses a system and method for monitoring, storing,
and assessing data related to the workout and fitness of the user.
10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] With the global economic growth, fitness club is developing rapidly in the world. Increased
smartphone and computer penetration have led to people becoming more self-aware and
have a zeal to monitor their own workouts. As the world slowly heads towards a time15 crunch, people are taking their health and wellness into their own hands. Further, people
also need more scientific and practical guidance to build their body and intelligent gadgets
to monitor the same.
[003] The cited prior art document US005655997A Al discloses an apparatus for providing
20 feedback to a user of a weight stack machine having weights for lifting an enclosure
adapted for attachment to the weight stack machine. Further, means for sensing weight for
determining the number of weights lifted is provided as well as encoder means for detecting
the motion of the weights during a lift. The said system discloses a load sensor being placed
below the weight stack to measure the weight being lifted. To measure the distance and
25 velocity, the invention uses a plurality of light sensors placed in front of the weight stack.
However, as the gym plate is also a part of the weight stack itself which is more susceptible
to breakage and an add on weight for the user.
[004] Another cited prior art document US 20150209609A1 discloses a weight stack machines
30 used for working out, and in particular to sensors for tracking a weight amount being used
for a current exercise. The invention uses a sensor strip and attaches a sensor alongside and
on each plate. This allows the system to determine the location of and track each plate.
3
5 However, the prior art invention Gym plate is a complex system as it uses too many sensors
and tracks each and every weighing plate separately.
[005] Yet another cited prior art document US 20150209609A1 discloses a system and method
for determining a selected weight in exercise equipment (which may include an
10 incremental weight sensor disposed on a shaft rotatably fastened with an incremental
weight selection dial). In the said invention, a spring element or plurality of spring elements
are disposed between a reference member and an unused portion of a weight stack results
in spring displacement during an exercise motion. A weight stack sensor disposed between
the reference member and the unused portion of a weight stack produces an electrical signal
15 related to displacement. However, the said system utilizes the spring system to measure
the displacement which may not give accurate result and wear out more easily.
[006] The problem associated with the state of the art technology pertaining to gym plates for
monitoring the exercise of the user is the ease of monitoring the exercise of the user and
20 simultaneously storing the same on cloud server. The components of the gym plate
significantly vary for the various machines and different complex technologies are being
used to monitor the exercise pattern of the use. Further an assessment and guidance for
improving the exercise plan to build the body is also required.
25 [007] Therefore, keeping in view of the problems associated with the state of the art, there is a
need for a smart fitness system to monitor the fitness statuses and provides guidance for
exercisers. Further a cheaper fitness monitoring device to be incorporated in any existing
exercise machine is required.
30
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a smart exercise monitoring
system for real time analysis of exercise of the user.
35
4
5 [009] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an artificial intelligence
technology based exercise monitoring plate for assessing and storing the workout and
fitness data.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to enable cloud connected computing for
10 evaluating the user’s previous fitness data with the real-time data and recommending the
exercise module based on the evaluated data.
[0011] Yet another objective of the present invention is to employ Internet of Things (IOT) nodes
to acquire contactless measurement of different parameters i.e. distance, force, speed,
15 weight etc. for analyzing the exercise pattern of the user.
[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide as a laser/ultrasonic sensor unit to
measure real time distance/motion for speed analysis of the user.
20 [0013] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a force sensor unit to measure
real time force applied by the user.
[0014] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide Central Processing Unit (CPU)
that has Bluetooth or NFC card to transmit the processed data i.e. the user’s daily exercise
25 data to user’s mobile/web-application.
[0015] Other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by
way of illustration and example, the aspects of the present invention are disclosed.
30
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed
description of the presently preferred aspects thereof with reference to the appended
35 drawings, in which the features, other aspects and advantages of certain exemplary
5
5 embodiments of the invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing in
which:
[0017] Figure 1 and 2 illustrates various components of the system for accessing and monitoring
the real-time exercise pattern of the user;
[0018] Figure 3 illustrates the process for accessing, monitoring, and evaluating the fitness of the
10 person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] In the present invention, the exercise monitoring system relates to an artificial
15 intelligence technology on cloud for monitoring and storing the workout and fitness data
along with displaying the evaluated results on the screen of the display device.
Furthermore, it enables cloud connected computing for evaluating the user’s previous
fitness data with the real-time data and recommending the exercise module based on the
evaluated data. Further Internet of Things (IOT) nodes are employed to acquire contactless
20 measurement of different parameters i.e. distance, force, speed, weight etc. for analyzing
the exercise pattern of the user which is further stored to cloud storage thereby enabling
digitized access to the fitness module. Furthermore, the system also predicts about the
errors related to the machine to accordingly warn the user.
[0020] The body of the exercise machine relates to a weight stack system having selector shaft
25 (110), weight stack pins(109), weighing plates (108) and Internet of Things (IOT) based
exercise monitoring plate system (100). The IOT based exercise monitoring system (100)
having weight measuring unit, a force sensor (102), Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar)
sensor (103), a rechargeable battery (105), a data processing, storage and network
communication unit comprising a processing unit configured to execute program
30 instructions, a solid state drive based storage unit, a network communication unit, a display
unit, Input/Output slots (106) and Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LEDs (107) for error
indications. Further all the said components are integrated in a three-dimensional exercise
monitoring plate which is portable and placed at the bottom of the weighing plates.
6
5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0021] The following detailed description and embodiments set forth herein below are merely
10 exemplary out of the wide variety and arrangement of instructions which can be employed
with the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. All the features
disclosed in this specification may be replaced by similar other or alternative features
performing similar or same or equivalent purposes. Thus, unless expressly stated
15 otherwise, they all are within the scope of the present invention.
[0022] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and
modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from
the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and
20 constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0023] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the
bibliographical meanings but are merely used to enable a clear and consistent
understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the
25 art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are
provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
[0024] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
30
[0025] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this
specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or
components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
7
5
[0026] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that
the example embodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware
and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be represented by the
same item of hardware.
10
[0027] The present system is based on Artificial Intelligence technologies, IOT (Internet of
things), and Cloud Computing and Storage. The integration of the AI-Cloud-IoT paradigm
in fitness management brings several prospects to sports industry, and significantly
improvises the collection of data related to workouts, sports, and fitness of the user and
15 provides a seamless user experience. The system includes artificial intelligence
technologies on cloud for monitoring and storing the workout and fitness data along with
displaying the evaluated results on the screen of the display device. Further, it enables
cloud connected computing for evaluating the user’s previous fitness data with the realtime data and recommending the exercise module based on the evaluated data. Further
20 Internet of Things (IOT) nodes are employed to acquire contactless measurement of
different parameters i.e. distance, force, speed, weight etc. for analyzing the exercise
pattern of the user which is further stored to cloud storage thereby enabling digitized access
to the fitness module. Therefore, through IT infra and cloud, real time traceability of the
exercise performed by the user is being processed. Furthermore, the system also predicts
25 about the machine which is about to break or which one has been used more than the other
thereby leading to poor customer experience which is further integrated with customer IT
cloud infra to accordingly warn the user about the machine error.
[0028] In accordance with the present invention, Figure 1 and 2 illustrates various components
of the system for accessing and monitoring the real-time exercise pattern of the user. The
30 body of the exercise machine relates to a weight stack system having selector shaft, weight
stack pins, weighing plates and exercise monitoring plate. The exercise monitoring plate
having plurality of load cell based weight measuring unit/a force sensor (102), Light
Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor (103) having laser light and reflection measuring
sensor , a rechargeable battery (105) to provide backup at the time of power cut, a data
35 processing, storage and network communication unit comprising a processing unit
8
5 configured to execute program instructions, a solid state drive based storage unit for storing
instructions and data collected by the plurality of sensors, a network communication unit
to transfer the exercise information of the user to cloud database and a display unit
configured to display exercise module and fitness of the user, Input/Output slots (106) to
configure memory cards, Ethernet connection, USB ports and other device connections,
10 Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LEDs (107) for error indications all the said components
integrated in an three dimensional exercise monitoring plate which is portable and placed
at the bottom of the weighing plates. No separate space needs to be created in the exercise
equipment to integrate this into the machine.
15 [0029] Further, the said flat exercise monitoring plate is placed below the weighing plates. In an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring plate is made of any strong
material and coated with shock absorbing material. In an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the monitoring plate is made of any cast iron and coated with rubber for
absorbing shock. The said dimensions of the monitoring plate may vary with respect to the
20 machine and the user need. In an specific embodiment the dimensions of the monitoring
plate is 300mm length×150mm width ×30mm height. Furthermore, plurality of load cell
based weight measuring unit/ force sensor (102), Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar)
sensor (103), a rechargeable battery (105) a data processing, storage and network
communication unit, a storage unit, a network communication unit, Input/Output slots
25 (106), RGB LEDs (107) are placed adjacent to the selector shaft and weight stack pins.
Plurality of LED lights are used to facilitate the indication of error in the machine.
[0030] In accordance with the present invention the data capturing unit includes a plurality
of sensors which captures and stores data through network. The weight/force sensor
30 measures the weight of the weighing plates placed on the stack and configured to assess
the movement of weighing plates being lifted and kept down by the user. The Light
Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor (103) for measuring distances by illuminating the
target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor. The Lidar utilizes active
sensors that supply their own illumination source. The energy source hits objects, and the
35 reflected energy is detected and measured by sensors. Distance to the object is determined
9
5 by recording the time between transmitted and backscattered pulses and by using the speed
of light to calculate the distance traveled. In the present invention, LIDAR is placed in the
center of the plate, adjacent to the selector shaft ends. This sensor draws out a 3d depth
map foretells the distance of the bottom of the selector shaft from plate. As the weight is
being lifted, the distance increases. As, it is being released, the distance decreases. The
10 advantageous features provided by LiDAR are as follows:
[0031] (a) Resolution and Accuracy
LiDAR generates instantaneous, massive amounts of measurements, and that are
accurate to a centimeter.
[0032] (b) 3D Mapping:
15 LiDAR data may be easily converted into 3D maps to interpret the environment.
[0033] (c) Low Light Performance:
LiDAR is unaffected by ambient light variations, and performs well in low any light
conditions;
[0034] (d) Speed:
20 LiDAR data are direct distance measurements that don’t need to be deciphered or
interpreted– thus enabling faster performance and thereby reduces processing
requirement.
[0035] A processing unit configured to execute program instructions. The processing unit may be
25 a processor or a microcontroller or a combination thereof. The microcontroller includes
RAM, ROM and all other peripherals embedded on a single chip. Further, a solid-state
drive-based storage unit is configured for storing instructions and data collected by the
plurality of sensors. According to some embodiments the machine readable instructions
are stored in a computer-readable medium (e.g. a memory or a compact disc) that comprises
30 instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the
method. Further a network communication is a wireless interface or Bluetooth/ NFC card
configured to transmit the user data to either mobile communication device, cloud server
or the screen of the display device. The said a network communication unit is utilized to
transfer the data of the exercise pattern of the user to cloud database or a mobile
10
5 communication unit and a display unit configured to display various fitness and exercise
parameters.
[0036] In accordance with the present invention the processing unit includes local processing
device and cloud base IT technologies, connected through internet gateway. The processing
10 unit processes the data acquired by data processing unit and initially processing the data
and then sending it to cloud base IT technologies for further processing. Processing of data
includes identification of the user, fetch exercise data related to the user, validate the
incoming exercise data with the associated user, comparing the fitness parameters with
globally recommended parameters. The data acquisition promotes contactless
15 measurement against the desired range of the corresponding parameters. The said data can
be analyzed through AI engine on cloud.
[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, a Computing Device / Mini PC / Single Board Computer or
equivalent running LINUX/WINDOWS, IP built in LabVIEW or PYTHON is used;
20 Amazon RDS or equivalent Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud based services is used to
store fitness module, workout schedule, exercise pattern of the user. Cloud services within
the processing unit share the machine learning models for AI based decision making.
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the mobile communication unit may include one or more
25 user devices, e.g. smartphones or similar. The mobile communication unit is configured to
receive exercise data from exercise monitoring pate (100), to store the received data and
analyse the received data and to provide relevant information to the user and/or any
concerned person. The user may then track his/her exercise in real-time in their mobile
communication device. For e.g. a near-filed communication signal or Bluetooth signal is
30 transmitted by the exercise monitoring plate (100) and is received by the user device. The
user device then sends a message to the cloud server, informing the server about the identity
of the user (e.g. the identity of the user device) and the exercise monitoring plate (100), to
which the user is logged in. On validating the identity, the exercise data with respect to the
user is transmitted to the communication device for real time monitoring.
35
11
5 [0039] The user communication device is a smartphone comprising a mobile application, for e.g.
an android app. In the mobile application the user may monitor machine training
automatically in real-time, follow pre-defined workouts or save their personal workouts,
view history of all training data, workout programs, statistics, and progress.
10 [0040] In accordance with the present invention the display unit includes a graphical user
interface which allows the user to monitor their real-time exercise performance. The
display unit also displays the various parameters associated with the fitness assessment of
the user. During the exercise, the user watches the screen of the display device, which
displays exercise information. The user may monitor in real-time the number of repetitions
15 performed i.e. no. of weighing plates displaced. Other information such as speed and
weight might also be shown. Further, information regarding whether the speed is too high
or too low is also provided. The display unit may include but not limited to a touch panel.
[0041] In accordance with the present invention the exercise monitoring plate houses Input/Output
20 slots (106) to configure memory cards, Ethernet connection, USB ports and other device
connections to promote seamless operation of the machine.
[0042] In accordance with the present invention, the system may employ LED lights for
monitoring the status of the machine. In an exemplary embodiment Red, Green and Blue
25 (RGB) LEDs (107) are used for status monitoring of the system and the usual indication of
START/STOP of the machine. The status monitoring indications are illustrated by the said
system are:
a) Letting the user know that the machine is ON,
b) Letting the user know they are connected to the machine,
30 c) Letting the user know that a set of exercise is complete.
[0043] In accordance with the present invention the process for accessing, monitoring, and
evaluating the fitness of the person is illustrated through Figure 3. The user reaches the
sport/ fitness management area for performing exercise. The user further logs in the web
35 application to store their exercise data associated with exercise machine (100). The web
12
5 application authenticates the user through their entered information. The user switches on
the exercise monitoring machine to perform the exercise. The weight sensor waiting to
sense displacement, LiDAR sensor off i.e. plurality of sensors remain in sleep mode to save
power. NFC/ Bluetooth/ Internet modules waiting to receive transmission request. RGB
lights indicate successful connection initiation and the LiDAR sensor turns on. Further, the
10 system waits for the user to perform desired exercise. Further, the user reviews the exercise
suggested by the web application to perform the exercise .While the user performs the
exercise the weight/force sensor measures the weight of the weighing plates placed on the
stack and force sensor assess the movement of weighing plates being lifted and kept down
by the user. Further the Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor (103) is utilized for
15 measuring distances travelled by the weighing plates. Further, the Artificial Intelligence
supported program also eliminates errors. For instance, it will detect sudden change in
weight by evaluating the force of the dropping weighing plate and calculating the correct
weight accordingly. Therefore, on receiving exercise data from multitude of sensors
associated with particular user at the exercise machine (100), the said received exercise
20 data is transferred to the display device or the mobile communication device for
monitoring. The received exercise data can also be stored on the cloud servers for the user
to access the information as per requirement. If the weighing plates are back to stored
resting value for more than 7 seconds then the RGB light indicates that the current set of
weighing plates has been completed and wait for the user to start another set of exercise.
25 However , if there is no input from the user for more than 10 seconds then the RGB
indicates completion of the exercise of the said user for the day.
[0044] In accordance with the present invention if on starting the system the user changes the
weighing plates for the exercise then the same is recorded for the user and then the user
30 further follows the same routine that is followed by them every day for recording and
evaluating the exercise performed by them. Furthermore, the system also predicts about
the machine which is about to break or which one has been used more than the other thereby
leading to poor customer experience which is further integrated with customer IT cloud
infra to accordingly warn the user about the machine error.
13
5 [0045] In accordance with the present invention advantages of the fitness monitoring system are
enlisted herein:
a) Internet of Things has appeared as one of the essential prerequisites for sport
exercises as every single user can monitor their work rate at the given moment.
b) Through regular assessment, instructors, in turn, are able to better understand and
10 serve the needs of users.
c) A smart exercise monitoring machine makes it simpler to connect with tools that
provides the user a clear picture of how hard users are working out or what we need
to do to exercise harder.
d) Cheaper fitness monitoring plate is provided for incorporation in any exercise
15 machine.
[0046] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to
be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various
20 modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.

WE CLAIM:
5 1. An exercise machine comprising:
a weight stack system having selector shaft, weight stack pins, weighing plates,
display unit and exercise monitoring plate (100);
wherein the exercise monitoring plate (100) comprises:
i. a weight /force sensor (102) configured to assess the movement and weight
of weighing plates being lifted and kept down by the user;
10 ii. Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor (103) is configured to
maintain alignment with the selector shaft and for measuring the distance
travelled by the weighing plates;
iii. a processing unit (104) to analyze, execute and transmit the real-time data
associated with user’s exercise;
15 iv. a rechargeable battery (105) configured to provide supply to the exercise
monitoring unit (100) as per the user’s requirement;
v. a wireless communication module configured to enable communication
with cloud server/any portable communication device for storing real-time
exercise data of the user;
20 vi. a Bluetooth or NFC unit for transferring data to the portable communication
device or display unit;
vii. a display unit may be fixedly or removably attached to the exercise
machine;
viii. Input/Output slots (106) to configure memory cards, Ethernet connection,
25 USB ports and other device connections, and
ix. Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LEDs (107) for system indications.
2. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a display unit is configured to
view the real-time data processed from plurality of sensors while performing
exercise.
3. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a display unit may be selected
from a mobile communication unit or touch panel.
15
4. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein RGB Led indication represents
the following:
- red light indicates the start of machine,
- green light indicates machine ready for assessing and processing the sensor
data and,
- blue light indicates the completion of task and storing data on cloud and
related machine.
5. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user may view, assess, and
store the exercise data on a portable communication device or a cloud server.
6. A method of recording the exercise performed by the user through the exercise
machine as claimed in claim 1, has the following steps:
i. logging in the particular user in the web application after verification to
store their exercise data associated with exercise machine (100);
ii. switching on the exercise machine (100) to perform exercise;
iii. review the exercise suggested by the web application to the user to perform
the exercise;
iv. receiving exercise data from plurality of sensors associated with particular
user at the exercise machine (100);
v. associating the received exercise data with the particular user being logged
in at the exercise machine (100) web application;
vi. transferring the received exercise data to the display device or the mobile
communication device for monitoring;
vii. storing the received exercise data on the cloud servers for the user to access
the information as per requirement.
7. The method of recording the exercise as claimed in claim 6, wherein after starting
the machine the plurality of sensors remains in sleep mode to save energy.
16
8. The method of recording the exercise as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensors
evaluate data when the user performs the exercise.
9. The method of recording the exercise as claimed in claim 6, wherein the change in
the exercise pattern of the user is detected by the machine and saved for further
assessment.
10. The method of recording the exercise as claimed in claim 6 wherein when the
plates are placed back on the monitoring plates the RGB led light indicates the
completion of the exercise of the user.