CUSTOM SERVICE REQUEST HANDLING FEATURE FOR EXERCISE MACHINE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority7 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/561,205, filed on March 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Facilities such as gyms, athletic clubs, and hotels, may include one or more exercise machines for customer use. During use of such machines, a customer may have a request for a product or sendee but may not want to leave the machine (e.g., the customer may not want to interrupt their workout).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate aspects, examples, and aspects of concepts that include the claimed subject matter and explain various principles and advantages of those aspects, examples, and aspects.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an exercise machine communications system in accordance with some aspects.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic controller of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some aspects.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electronic communications device of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some aspects. [0007] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for handling a sendee request from a user implemented by the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some examples.
[0008] FIG. 5A illustrates several examples of an exercise machine of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some aspects.
[0009] FIG. 5B illustrates a portion of an exercise machine of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some aspects.
[0010] FIG. 5C illustrates an exercise machine of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with some aspects.
[0011] FIG. 6 is an example of a graphical user interface implemented on the electronic communications device of FIG. 3 in accordance with some aspects.
[0012] FIG. 7A is an example of a graphical user interface implemented on the electronic controller of FIG. 2 in accordance with some aspects.
[0013] FIG. 7B illustrates a plurality of different request buttons of the graphical user interface of FIG. 7A in accordance with some aspects.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for handling a service request from a user of the exercise machine of FIG. 1 implemented by the system of FIG. 1, in accordance with some aspects.
[0015] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of examples, aspects, and features illustrated.
[0016] In some instances, the apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the certain examples, features, and aspects so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary' skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As noted above, certain facilities provide one or more exercise machines for customer use. During use, a user may desire or need a particular product or service (e.g., a user may want to purchase a bottle of water, reserve another exercise machine, put in a request for maintenance of the exercise machine, book a massage service provided by the facility, etc.). In such instances, the user may not wish to leave the machine or interrupt their use of the machine in order to place the request.
[0018] To address these problems and for other reasons, systems and methods are provided herein for, among other things, receiving and managing service requests from a user of an exercise machine (e.g.. within a common facility). In particular, a user is able to place a service request for a particular product or sendee via an electronic control device (integrated into the exercise machine, implemented on a separate electronic device, or some combination thereof). Advantageously, a user is able to place a custom request indicating the particular product or service (e.g., as opposed to actuating a "‘call” button to call for an attendant to come to the user to receive the request or selecting a command from a predetermined list via a user interface).
[0019] Aspects provided herein include, among other things, a system for handling a service request from a user of an exercise machine of a facility. The system includes an electronic processor configured to receive, via a user interface, the service request, actively determine a handling status of the sendee request, and provide, via the user interface, an indication to the user based on the handling status.
[0020] Aspects provided herein also include, among other things, a method for handling a service request from a user of an exercise machine of a facility. The method includes receiving, via a user interface, the service request, actively determining a handling status of the service request, and providing, via the user interface, an indication to the user based on the handling status.
[0021] Before any aspects of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other aspects and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology' and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of ‘'including,’’ “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” '‘supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and '‘coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described aspects.
[0022] It should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the aspects described herein or portions thereof. In addition, it should be understood that aspects described herein may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one aspect, the electronic based aspects described herein may be implemented in software (stored on non-transitory computer-readable medium) executable by one or more processors. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be used to implement the aspects described herein. For example, “controller,” “control unit,” “control module,” and “control assembly” described in the specification may include one or more processors, one or more memory' modules including non-transitory computer-readable medium, one or more input/output interfaces, and various connections (e.g., a system bus) connecting the components. [0023] For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presented herein are illustrated with a single exemplar of each of its component parts. Some examples may not describe or illustrate all components of the systems. Other examples may include more or fewer of each of the illustrated components, may combine some components, or may include additional or alternative components.
[0024] It should be understood that although certain figures presented herein illustrate hardware and software located within particular devices, these depictions are for illustrative purposes only. In some aspects, the illustrated components may be combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and/or hardware. For example, instead of being located within and performed by a single electronic processor, logic and processing may be distributed among multiple electronic processors. Thus, as used herein, the term “electronic processor’7 refers to one or more electronic processors. Regardless of how they are combined or divided, hardware and software components may be located on the same computing device or may be distributed among different computing devices connected by one or more netw orks or other suitable communication links.
[0025] It should also be understood that, while the examples are described herein in regard to exercise machines at a gym/athletic facility, it should be understood that the systems and methods described herein may be utilized at any kind of facility that offers use of one or more exercise machines by a user (e.g., a hotel, an apartment complex, an exercise machine store, and the like).
[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram of one example system 100, which is configured to, among other things, receive and handle a service request from a user of an exercise equipment/machine 102, in accordance with some aspects. The system 100 is associated with a facility7 (e.g., a gym, an athletic club, a hotel, or the like) that includes the exercise machine 102. The exercise machine 102 includes an electronic controller 200 (described in more detail below in regard to FIG. 2). and the system 100 further includes an electronic communications device 300 (described in more detail below in regard to FIG. 3). [0027] The system 100 may include more components than those illustrated. In particular, although FIG. 1 illustrates only a single exercise machine, a single electronic controller 200. and a single electronic communications device 300, the system 100 may include additional exercise machines, electronic controllers, and/or communications devices. In such aspects, any additional exercise machines(s), electronic controller(s), and/or electronic communications device(s) may all be the same kind or a different kind of the particular, respective component.
[0028] As illustrated, the exercise machine 102 (in particular, the electronic controller 200) is communicatively connected (via a suitable wired or wireless connection or some combination thereof) to the electronic communications device 300. Wireless communications between one or more components of the system 100 may be implemented using various local and wide area networks (e.g.. a Bluetooth™ network or a Wi-Fi™ network, the Internet, or combinations or derivatives thereof).
[0029] The exercise machine f02 may be any kind of mechanical or electromechanical machine for physical exercise when operated/used by a user. The exercise machine 102 may be, for example, an elliptical trainer (as illustrated in FIG. 1), a weight machine, a rowing machine, a treadmill, or the like. In some aspects, the exercise machine 102 includes additional electronics for performing one or more functions (e.g., adjusting a resistance level and/or speed of a mechanism of the exercise equipment 102, measuring a heart rate of a user of the exercise equipment 102, etc.), and for communicating with one or more other devices of the system 100 (e.g., the electronic controller 200 and/or the electronic communications device 300). In some aspects the exercise machine 102 may include no additional electronics and/or is not configured to communicate electronically with other devices.
[0030] The electronic controller 200 is an electronic device configured to execute or run at least one software application that provides a service to a user of the exercise machine 102. In some aspects, the electronic controller is configured to identify a user operating the exercise machine f O2 by verifying whether the user is associated with a registered account with the facility (e.g., via biometric recognition, via a username and password login provided by the user, an identification card scan, etc.) and receives and handles service requests provided by the user (as explained in more detail below).
[0031] For ease of description, the electronic controller 200 is described herein as being integrated into the exercise machine 102. However, it should be understood that some or all of the electronic controller 200 (and functionality thereof) may be integrated into the exercise machine 102, implemented on a separate electronic device (e.g., the electronic communications device 300). or some combination thereof. In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 may be, for example, an electronic tablet, a mobile communications device/cellular phone, a smart watch or other wearable, or the like.
[0032] The electronic communications device 300 is an electronic device separate from the electronic controller 200 and is configured to perform electronic communications with the electronic controller 200 and the functionality described herein. The electronic communications device 300 may be, for example, a computer, a laptop, a cellular phone, a tablet, or the like. In some aspects, the electronic communications device 300 is a server (e.g., an application server configured to allow access to one or more applications to one or more authorized devices such as the electronic controller 200). The electronic communications device 300, as described in more detail below, may include components similar to that of the electronic controller 200. The electronic communications device 300 is associated with an individual employed by the facility’ or an entity that provides a service for the facility (e.g., a staff member of the facility or a third-party service that the facility rents the exercise machine 102 from or provides products to sell at the facility ).
[0033] The electronic communications device 300, in some aspects, is further configured to communicate with one or more additional electronic service attendant communications devices (referred to herein as attendant devices 104). Each of the additional electronic service attendant communications devices 104 may be affiliated with one or more individuals or a third-party service entity employed by the facility (for ease of description, referred to herein collectively as a singular “attendant”). Such devices 104 may include, for example, a computer, a laptop, a cellular phone, a tablet, or the like. The device(s) 104 include similar components to those described herein with respect to the electronic controller 200 and the electronic communications device 300.
[0034] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one example aspect of an electronic controller 200. Tn the aspect illustrated, the electronic communications device 200 includes an electronic processor 205, a memory’ 210, a communication interface 215, and an input/output interface 220, and, in some aspects, a display 225. The illustrated components, along with other various modules and components are connected to each other by or through one or more control or data buses (e.g., the bus 230) that enable communication therebetween.
[0035] The electronic processor 205 may include one or more microprocessors, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another suitable electronic device. The electronic processor 205 obtains and provides information (e.g., to and from the memory’ 210 and/or the communication interface 215) and processes the information by executing one or more software instructions or modules, capable of being stored, for example, in a random access memory ("RAM”) area of the memory 210. a read only- memory ("ROM") of the memory 210, or another non-transitory computer readable medium (not shown). The software can include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. The electronic processor 205 is configured to retrieve from the memory- 210 and execute, among other things, instructions related to the processes and methods described herein (e.g., the method 400 of FIG. 4 described below). For example, as explained in more detail below, the electronic processor 205 is configured to receive, at the controller 200, a service request from a user (e.g., via a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display 225) and handle/fulfill the service request by performing a corresponding action based on the particular service request. In some aspects, some or all of the software and data stored in the memory- 210 may also be stored in and retrieved from one or more databases (not shown) remote from the electronic controller 200 (e.g., within the electronic communications device 300 and/or a separate database, which is not shown). [0036] The memory 210 may further include either or both exercise machine identifier information 211 A and user account information 21 IB. The exercise machine identifier information 211 A is information regarding one or more exercise machines of the facility (e.g., the exercise machine 102). The exercise machine identifier information 21 1 A may include a unique name or code associated with a respective exercise machine and, in some aspects, additional identifying information such as a type of the exercise machine, a maintenance history of the exercise machine, a list of previous users of the exercise machine, and the like. The user account information 21 IB is information regarding one or more user accounts each associated with a particular individual or group registered with the facility to use one or more of the exercise machines of the facility (e.g., a gym membership account). The user account information 21 IB may include a username, password, contact information, billing/payment information (which may include, for example, a credit or debit card number, a billing history of purchases with the facility, etc ), exercise machine use information (e.g., a list of respective exercise machine identifiers of previously used exercise machines of the facility and and/or dates and/or durations of use thereof), and the like. In some aspects, at least a portion of either or both of exercise machine identifier information 211 A and user account information 21 IB is stored remote from the electronic controller 200 (e.g., within a database server of the system 100, which is not shown, the electronic communications device 300, and/or the attendant device(s) 104). In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 associated with the exercise machine 102 may locally store exercise machine identifier information 211 A and/or user account information 21 IB only of the current user and/or the exercise machine 102 while exercise machine identifier information 211 A and/or user account information 21 IB regarding all users and/or exercise machines of the facility is stored in a separate database (e.g., within the electronic communications device 300 or a separate device/server).
[0037] The electronic processor 205 is configured to control the communication interface 215 to transmit and receive communication signals to and from at least one other device (e.g., the electronic communications device 300). The communications interface 215 may include various digital and analog components (e.g., digital signal processors, high band filters, low band filters, and the like), which for brevity' are not described herein and which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both.
[0038] The communications interface 215 may include, for example, a transceiver 235 for wireless communications between one or more other devices/sy stems (e.g., the electronic communications device 300).
[0039] The transceiver 235 is adapted for communication with one or more communication links or communication networks used to communicate with other components or computing devices of the system 100 (e.g., the electronic communications device 300). For example, the transceiver 235 may be adapted for communication with one or more of the Internet (including public and private Internet Protocol (IP) networks), a Bluetooth network, a Wi-Fi network, for example operating in accordance with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802. 11 standard (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.1 lax), a 3G standard network (including Global System for Mobiles (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standards), an LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network or other types of GSM networks, a 5G standard network, or another similar type of wireless network. The transceiver 235 may be implemented as a single device capable of both electronically transmitting and receiving information or as a transmitter and a receiver pair. In some aspects, the transceiver 235 alternatively or additionally comprises one or more wired transceivers, such as an Ethernet transceiver, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) transceiver, or similar transceiver configurable to communicate via a twisted pair wire, a coaxial cable, a fiberoptic link, or a similar physical connection to a wired network (e.g., including the electronic communications device 300).
[0040] The user input/output interface 220 is configured to provide aspects of a human machine interface (e.g., a keypad, switches, buttons, soft keys, indictor lights (e.g., light emitting diodes), a microphone, a speaker, a camera, and the like) for a user to interact with the electronic controller 200. For example, as mentioned above, in some aspects, the electronic controller 200 further includes the display 225. The display 225 is a suitable display such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screen, or an organic light-emiting diode (OLED) touch screen. In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 implements a graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., generated by the electronic processor 205, from instructions and data stored in the memory 210, and presented on the display 225), that enables a user to interact with the electronic controller 200. In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 enables display remotely, for example, using a display of another electronic device.
[0041] The user input/output interface 220 also, in some aspects, includes a user actuable device 226 (e.g., a buton, a dial, a switch, etc.). In some aspects, the user actuable device 226 is implemented as a physical device. In some aspects, the user actuable device 226 is implemented virtually (e.g., via a GUI of the display 225).
[0042] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates one example of an electronic communications device 300. In the example illustrated, the electronic communications device 300 includes an electronic processor 305, a memory 310, a communication interface 315, and, in some aspects, a user input/output interface 320, a display 325. and/or a transceiver 335. The illustrated components, along with other various modules and components are connected to each other by or through one or more control or data buses (e.g., the bus 330) that enable communication therebetween.
[0043] The electronic processor 305, the memory 310, the communication interface 315, the user input/output interface 320, the display 325, and the transceiver 335 may be configured and function similar to the electronic processor 205, the memory 210, the communication interface 215, the user input/output interface 220, the display 225, and the transceiver 235, respectively and thus, for sake of brevity, are not further discussed herein.
[0044] The transceiver 335 of the electronic communications device 300 may differ from the transceiver 235 of the electronic controller 200 in that the electronic communications device 300 may access data related to the facility and one or more users thereof (e.g., user information data, exercise equipment information, exercise equipment registration schedule information, sale product information, etc.) from one or more of an external database (not shown). The external database may be a public or private database, such as a data store or data service accessible by the electronic communications device 300 over one or more additional networks. In some aspects, the electronic communications device 300 may provide information from the database to the electronic controller 200. In some aspects, additionally or alternatively, the electronic controller 200 may also be configured to access information from the database.
[0045] In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 enables a display remotely, for example, using a display of another electronic device (e.g., of the one or more attendant devices 104).
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 for handling a user request for a service in accordance with some aspects. By way of example, the method 400 is described as being performed by the electronic controller 200 (in particular, the electronic processor 205). Although the method 400 is described in conjunction with the system 100 as described herein, the method 400 may be used with other systems and devices. In addition, the method 400 may be modified or performed differently than the specific example provided. For example, in some aspects, a portion or all of the method may be implemented on the electronic communications device 300. However, for ease of description, the examples described below are described in terms of the electronic controller 200 alone (and a singular electronic processor 205).
[0047] The method 400 begins at block 402, with the electronic processor 205 determining an identifier of an exercise machine 102, a user thereof, or both. The identifier may be a unique identity assigned to or associated with the exercise machine 102 (e.g., an inventory/ asset identification number or code) or the user (e.g., a registered account associated with the user). The identifier may also be a location of the exercise machine 102 or of the user associated with the exercise machine 102 (e.g., a location within the facility housing the exercise machine).
[0048] As mentioned above, an identity of the user may be based on biometric recognition, via a username and password login provided by the user, an identification badge scan, and the like (e.g., to determine that the user is registered/authorized by the facility to use the machine 102). For example, the electronic processor 205 may be configured to receive (automatically or in response to a user input) an image of a user of the exercise machine 102 (e.g., from a camera of the controller 200) and identity' a registered account with the facility or equipment thereof (e.g., a gym membership account) of the user based on a facial image recognition. As another example, the user may be prompted via a GUI of the controller 200 to enter a username and password corresponding to a registered account. The electronic processor 205 verifies the user account locally or may provide the collected information to a user account management server (e.g., through the electronic communications device 300 or at least part of the electronic communications device 300 itself) of the facility7 for verification.
[0049] In instances where the electronic processor 205 is unable to determine an identity of the user, the electronic processor 205 may send an identifying code of the exercise machine 102 to a facility staff member (e.g., to the electronic communications device 300). The identifying code may be a unique identifier of the exercise machine 102, a location of the machine 102, or both. The electronic processor 205, in some aspects, sends the identifying code automatically. In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 provides the identifying code in response to receiving a service request (block 404).
[0050] At block 404, the electronic processor 205 receives, via the user interface, the service request from the user. The service request may be received audibly from the user via a microphone. In such instances, the electronic processor 205 may utilize one or more speech-to-text recognition algorithms and analytics to determine the service request. In some aspects, the service request may be received by the user selecting or typing a command (e.g., via the user input/output interface 220). The service request may be provided, for example, based on input from a user-actuable device such as a button (e.g., the user actuable device 226) or a keyboard input provided as a physical device or a virtual device provided via a touchscreen within a GUI of the display 225. In some aspects, a particular service request is sent based on the particular input of the interface 220 used by the user. For example, the electronic controller may determine a first service request based on an input from a first user-actuable device (e.g., the user actuable device 226) of the interface 220 and a second service request (different from the first service request) based on an input from a second user-actuable device (e.g., the display 225 or another user actuable device) of the interface 220.
[0051] In some aspects, block 402 of the method may be performed after block 404. For example, in some aspects, the electronic processor 205 determines the identifier of the exercise machine 102, a user thereof, or both. The electronic processor 205 may determine the identifier(s), for example, based on information included with the service request.
[0052] At block 406, the electronic processor 205 determines, based on the service request, a corresponding action, and, at block 408, performs the corresponding action. The corresponding action may be transmitting a particular command to another device (e.g., the electronic communications device 300) to perform a task related to the service request. In some instances, the electronic processor 205 may transmit a command to the electronic communications device 300 to display the particular service request (and, in some aspects, additional information such as a registered account of the user, a unique identifier of the exercise machine 102 which the user is using, a location of the exercise machine 102 (e.g., within a facility), etc.) on the display 325 to a user of the electronic communications device 300. The user of the electronic communications device 300 may accordingly fulfill the service request. Alternatively, depending on the particular service request and configuration of the system 100, the electronic controller 200 itself may fulfill the service request itself.
[0053] As a first example, the service request from the user may be a maintenance request such as '‘This exercise machine is making a strange noise” or '‘The exercise machine is not working.” In such instances, the electronic processor 205 may, based on determining that the request is a maintenance request, transmit a request for maintenance to the electronic communications device 300 to be handled. The electronic communications device 300 may further communicate the service request to an attendant of the facility (e.g., via the display 325 and/or a display of the attendant device 104) or transmit the request further to another device (e.g., a maintenance server for the facility , which is not shown) to fulfill the service request.
[0054] As another example, the service request from the user may be a product transaction request (i.e. a request to receive and/or purchase an item or service offered by the facility)- For example, the service request may be “I would like to purchase a bottle of water,’" “I would like to purchase a massage,’" or “I would like a towel.” The electronic processor 205 may, based on determining that the service request is a product transaction request, for example, provide one or more commands to the electronic communications device 300 to inform a user thereof (herein referred to as an attendant) to perform one or more tasks to fulfill the sendee request or perform the transaction (e.g., using credit/debit card information including in the respective user account information 21 IB) itself or via one or more commands to the electronic communications device 300 to bill an account associated with the user. In some instances, the electronic processor 205 is further configured to determine a location to which the requested item should be delivered for the user to receive (e.g., at the user’s location within the facility, a reception desk, the user’s home. etc.). The electronic processor 205 may accordingly direct the user of the electronic controller 200 to the location or direct an attendant of the facility via, for example, an alert generated/displayed at the electronic communications device 300 and/or attendant device 104 to the user of the electronic controller 200.
[0055] As another example, the service request from the user may be a reservation request (e.g., for use of another exercise machine of the facility). For example, the service request may be, “I would like to reserve an elliptical machine.” The electronic processor 205, in response, may. based on determining that the service request is a reservation request, accordingly, for example, provide one or more commands to the electronic communications device 300 to perform one or more tasks to fulfill the service request or reserve the particular requested item (e.g., by utilizing an electronic exercise equipment reservation schedule of the facility managed at the electronic communications device 300 or on a separate server of the system 100) itself or via one or more commands to the electronic communications device 300. In some instances, the electronic processor 205 is further configured to determine a duration and/or time in which the requested item should be reserved for the user to use.
[0056] In some aspects, the electronic controller 200 is configured to determine and display targeted digital content to a user of the respective exercise machine 102 based on, for example, the user account information 21 IB and/or the exercise machine identification information 211 A. As used herein, the term “digital content'’ refers to digital media, such as text, images, video, audio, and combinations of the foregoing. Digital content may include advertisements for certain products and/or services which may include, but are not limited to, products and/or services provided by or related to the facility. After determining the targeted digital content, the targeted digital content is output (displayed) by the electronic controller 200 (e.g., within the GUI of the display 225). A user may then request a service and/or product associated with the generated digital content, for example, by interacting with the displayed digital content via the GUI. For example, the digital content may be an advertisement for a water bottle or sweatshirt for sale by the facility' or for tickets to an upcoming event at the facility.
[0057] The digital content may be tagged with data such as a source of the digital content, subject matter of the digital content, a price associated with the digital content, and the like. In some aspects, digital content may also be associated with preferred targets, such as particular users of the exercise machine 102. particular workouts, particular products, particular times of day or dates, and the like. The user information data includes demographic data for users of the exercise machine 102. Users may include registered users, current users, historical users, prospective users, or a combination thereof. Prospective users may include individuals that have acquired (e.g., purchased or reserved) the exercise machine 102 but may have not actually used the exercise machine 102 yet. The demographic data may include occupation, salary, gender, age, and the like. Additionally, the demographic data may include information regarding a user’s status at the facility (e.g., a membership level, how long the user has been a member of the facility, etc.). In some aspects, the demographic data for the users is collected from, for example, a payment or tracking system used by users of the exercise machine 102 for the facility. For example, registered users of the exercise machine 102 may use website or a software application (e.g., executed by a mobile communication device or the electronic controller 200) to track exercise machine availability', time tables/schedules, and prices, book reservations, purchase prepaid products, and the like. As part of using these services associated with the exercise machine 102, the user may be prompted or required to enter demographic data. Alternatively, or in addition, the electronic controller 200 may condition feature accessibility of the exercise machine on the submission of user account information/identification and/or demographic data. For example, to use the exercise machine 102, a user may need to provide demographic data. In some aspects, this demographic data may also be aggregated from other systems unrelated to the exercise equipment 102 and/or the facility, such as collected from social media systems or loyalty systems associated with other facilities or other goods or services, or from applications installed on a user’s mobile electronic device.
[0058] The electronic controller 200 may further be configured to utilize analytics in determining digital content to provide to a particular user. Analytic data includes data capturing the activities of historical users of the exercise machine 102, such as which users have used the exercise machine 102 and what service requests have users of the exercise machine 102 initiated, at what times, on what days, and for how long. Again, this data may be collected through a website or a software application (e.g., executed by the electronic controller 200 or hosted by a remote server in which the controller 200 and/or electronic communications device 300 has access to) associated with the exercise machine 102 and/or the facility’ thereof. For example, each user of the exercise machine 102 may be required to login to a software application (e.g., associated with the facility) in order to use the exercise machine 102. Thus, this data may be tracked to identify what users use what exercise machines, on what days, at what times, and for how long. Again, this data may also be aggregated from other sources, including social media systems or credit card or other sale/reservation information used to reserve and purchase products/services at the facility'.
[0059] In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 is configured to illuminate one or more LEDs (e.g., part of the input/output interface 220 of the electronic controller 200) as a corresponding action (e.g., to indicate that a user of the exercise machine 102 has requested assistance). As illustrated in FIGS. 5A - 5C, the LEDs 502 may be installed onto or integrated into a housing of the exercise machine 102. Alternatively, or additionally, in some aspects, one or more of the LEDs 502 are disposed on a housing of the electronic controller 200 (e.g., in aspects where the electronic controller 200 is attached to or integrated into the exercise machine 102). One or more of the LEDs 502 may also be positioned on a backside of a display of the exercise machine 102 (e.g., the display 225 of the controller 200). The electronic processor 205 operates one or more of the LEDs 502 in a particular color and/or pattern based on the particular service request. The pattern may include turning one or more of the LEDs 502 on and off at a particular frequency, changing a color of the one or more LEDs 502, or both. The electric processor 205 may operate the one or more LEDs 502 to show different colors, have the LEDs flash on and off. have the colors of the LEDs fade in and fade out, have colors that cycle through a pattern, or some combination thereof. For example, the electronic processor 205 may control one or more of the LEDs 502 to turn red and flash at a particular rate in instances where the service request relates to a maintenance issue with the exercise machine 102. As another example, the electronic processor 205 may operate the one or more LEDs 502 to turn green when the service request relates to a user request for an item to be delivered to them.
[0060] FIG. 6 is an example of a GUI 600 (e.g., of the display 325 of the electronic communications device 300) in accordance with some aspects. As illustrated, the GUI 600 includes a request log 602. The request log 602 includes one or more request log entries (in the illustrated example, entries 604A and 604B), each corresponding to a received service request. The entries may correspond to a past completed service request or a currently pending service request. In the illustrated aspect, each entry includes an identity 606A of the exercise machine corresponding to the service request, a modality 606B of the exercise machine (e.g., a type of exercise machine), a request time 606C (e.g.. when the service request was originally sent), a pending time 606D (how long the service request has been pending), and a status 606E. The electronic communications device 300 (automatically or via input from a user) may change the status 606E of a request entry to one or more different predetermined statuses (e.g., “needs assistance,” “on the way,” and “completed.”). The electronic communications device 300, in some aspects, is configured to provide status information for a service request to the electronic controller 200 of the corresponding exercise machine 102. In some aspects, the electronic communications device 300 is configured to automatically push a notification/alert regarding the service request to one or more additional devices (e.g., attendant device(s) 104) to, for example, notify a respective attendant to handle the service request.
[0061] FIG. 7A is an example of a GUI 700 implemented on the electronic controller 200 (e.g., on the display 225) in accordance with some aspects. The GUI 700 includes a virtual request button 702 for a user to create a service request. The electronic controller 200. in some aspects, is configured to display a status indicator of the service request of the exercise machine 102 and update the displayed status based on status information (e g., information received from the electronic communications device 300, at the electronic controller 200, or some combination thereof). In the example illustrated, the status indicator is integrated into the request button 702. Based on the particular status, one or more characteristics of the button 702 may be changed to indicate the status of the request.
[0062] For example, FIG. 7B illustrates a plurality of different request buttons 704 A - 704C, each indicating a different status of a request. The indicated status may be a no request sent status (button 704A), a request sent status (button 704B), and a being handled status (button 704C). In some aspects, a user of the exercise machine 102 may update the status of the service request themselves (e.g., via the GUI 700 of the display 225).
[0063] It should be understood that, in some aspects, some or all elements of either or both GUIs 600 and 700 may be implemented alternatively or additionally at either the controller 200, the device 300, and/or the attendant devices 104.
[0064] FIG. 8 is a method illustrates an example method 800 for handling a service request from a user of an exercise machine (e.g., exercise machine 102) of a facility7, in accordance with some aspects. By way of example, the method 800 is described as being performed by the electronic controller 200 (in particular, the electronic processor 205). Although the method 800 is described in conjunction with the system 100 as described herein, the method 800 may be used with other systems and devices. In addition, the method 800 may be modified or performed differently than the specific example provided. For example, in some aspects, a portion or all of the method may be implemented on the electronic communications device 300. However, for ease of description, the examples described below are described in terms of the electronic controller 200 alone (and a singular electronic processor 205).
[0065] The method 800 begins at block 802, where the electronic processor 205 receives, via the user interface 220, a service request. The service request may be generated, for example, by the user of the exercise machine 104 via actuation of the user actuable device 226. The service request may be selected from a list of one or more predetermined requests and/or a custom request entered by the user. In some aspects, as described above, the electronic processor 205 determines an identifier of either or both of the user and the exercise machine 102 and transmits, to the electronic communications device 300, the identifier of either or both of the user and of the exercise machine 102 in addition to the service request.
[0066] At block 804, the electronic processor 205 actively (continuously, periodically, etc.) determines a status of the service request (referred to herein below as a handling status) and, at block 806, provides, via the user interface 220, an indication to the user based on the handling status. The indication includes operating one or more output elements (e.g., an audio speaker, the display 225, an LED, a haptic element, etc.) of the user interface 220.
[0067] In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 updates the indication by changing an aspect of the indication. The electronic processor 205 may change the aspect (e.g., in addition to the current handling status) based on at least one selected from the group consisting of a type of service request and an approximate time to fulfill the service request. The type of service request may be, for example, a maintenance request for the exercise machine, a reservation request for another exercise machine, and a product transaction request for obtaining a product provided by the facility, a handicap accessibility aid request (e.g., a request to aid a user that is handicapped to adjust, use, or exit from a machine 102), and the like.
[0068] The updating of the indication (and/or changing of an aspect thereof) may include changing a visual, haptic, and/or audible output of one or more elements of the interface 220. The indication may be, for example, a visual indication provided by one or more LEDs (e.g., LEDs 502). The change in an aspect may include one or more of a change in an actuation frequency, in color, and/or number of LEDs 502 activated. In some aspects, the indication may be non-audible (e.g., so as not to alert other users proximate to the exercise machine 102). The indication (and change in an aspect thereof) may be generated on the display 225 (e.g., as described above with respect to FIG. 7B).
[0069] The electronic processor 205, in some aspects, determines the handling status, for example, via request status information collected from one or more electronic communications devices (e.g., the communications device 300, the attendant devices 104. etc.) of the system 100 as described above. The status information may be provided by a user of the electronic communications device 300 and/or the attendant device 104. For example, a user of the device 300 and/or the device 104 may set a handling status corresponding to the service request via a GUI implemented on the respective device (e.g., as described above with respect to FIG. 6).
[0070] In some aspects, as generally described above, the electronic processor 205 is configured to determine an identifier of the user, determine a membership account associated with the user based on the identity of the user, determine a corresponding cost to fulfill the service request, and bill the corresponding cost to the membership account when the service request is fulfilled.
[0071] In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 is configured to moderate an availability of the user to request a service. For example, the electronic processor 205 may be configured to temporarily disable (e.g., ‘‘lock out”) one or more elements of the user interface 220 (e.g., the user actuable device 226) for initiating a service request. The electronic processor 205 may disable the ability for a user to initiate a service request through the interface 220, for example, in response to a request by the facility (e.g., from one or more of the attendant devices 104. As another example, the electronic processor 205 may temporarily disable the ability for a user to initiate a service request through the interface 220, for example, based on a predetermined schedule (during a particular time of day, day of the week, etc.) In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 disables the service request input for a user based on a staffing schedule of the facility.
[0072] The electronic processor 205, in some aspects, in configured to export one or more settings of the service handling system (e.g., regarding particular indications corresponding to particular handling statuses, disabling the service request input at certain times) to one or more other service request handling systems similar to that of the system 100 (e.g., of another facility owned by the same owner as the facility).
[0073] In the foregoing specification, various examples, aspects, and features have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings.
[0074] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
[0075] Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements, does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises .. . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes .. . a,” or “contains ... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. As mentioned above, the terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary' skill in the art, and in one non-limiting aspect the term is defined to be within 10%, in another aspect within 5%, in another aspect within 1% and in another aspect within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
[0076] It will be appreciated that some aspects may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain nonprocessor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.
[0077] Moreover, an aspect can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology', and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.
[0078] In the foregoing specification, specific aspects have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
[0079] Various features and advantages of some aspects are set forth in the following claims.