Social Network Training Service System and Method Using Smart Trainer Application

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0104039, filed on Oct. 12, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a social network training service system and method.

Description of the Related Art

With an increased interest in health being developed, interest in physical exercise also has been increasing rather remarkably. However, since there are varied parts of body and forms of exercise equipment, in addition to varying forms of exercise, people desiring to exercise are faced with a degree of difficulty in gaining a sufficient understanding of a proper exercise method.

To solve this problem, there are conventional technologies for providing a user with exercise information using a mobile terminal, for example, as disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2011-0102278 titled “Automatic health training information management system based on the recognition of barcode using the Smart phone”.

However, the conventional technologies merely offer general exercise information to mobile terminal users or only provide the convenience of recording and managing exercise information of users, and fail to provide motivation to drive users to continue exercising, so in general, the users tend to give up exercising rather easily.

In the present specification, provided is a system and method that encourages a user to exercise continuously and efficiently.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention provides a social network training service system and method that may enable a user to recognize a proper exercise method by conveying the proper exercise method to the user through a mentoring relationship with a trainer using a smart trainer application that operates in a mobile user terminal or a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like.

Another aspect of the present invention also provides a social network training service system and method that may provide a user with training programs for each trainer, using a smart trainer application, to enable the user to participate in a desired training program, and may form an exercise group among users participating in the same training program to construct a social network, so that the users of the exercise group may feel a sense of belonging and may be motivated.

Still another aspect of the present invention also provides a social network training service system and method that may enable users of an exercise group to share effects of a training program via a social network, and may enable the users to determine satisfaction directly with training programs for each trainer, so that the users may check the training program satisfaction of other users.

Yet another aspect of the present invention also provides a social network training service system and method that may enable users to search for exercise methods for each body part and for each form of exercise equipment, so that the users may recognize a more specific exercise method.

Further another aspect of the present invention also provides a user terminal that may operate the smart trainer application to participate in a social network, and may display varied information received from a social network training service system through the smart trainer application, and a social network training service method performed by the user terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a social network training service system including a training program information maintaining unit to maintain information about each training program produced for each of a plurality of trainers, a training program information providing unit to provide information about each of the training programs to a user who requests a connection through a user terminal, and an information sharing management unit to form a group among a plurality users, to receive at least some of an exercise result of each of the users, input information input by each of the users, and body information of each of the users measured by measuring equipments of the users, and to provide at least some of the received information to user terminals of the users to enable the users to share the information.

In an aspect of the present invention, the training program information providing unit may provide information about each of the training programs to the user who requests a connection through an application installed in the user terminal, and the information sharing management unit may identify a training program selected by the user based on the provided information and may form a group among a plurality of the users for each training program.

In another aspect of the present invention, the system may further include an exercise information providing unit to provide information about at least one exercise method to the user terminal of the user based on at least one of a body part and an exercise equipment selected by the user.

In still another aspect of the present invention, at least one of a plurality of the users may include a trainer who produced the training program, and the training program information providing unit may further provide information input by the trainer to the user terminals of the users.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the information sharing management unit may provide the users with a preset goal for each training program, may form and manage a plurality of groups set by the selection of each of the users for the preset goal, may calculate a target value for each of a plurality of the groups, and may determine a winner group and a loser group among a plurality of the groups.

In further another aspect of the present invention, the system may further include a user information maintaining unit to receive at least one value of a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user from at least one of the user terminal of the user and the measuring equipment of the user, and to store and maintain values associated with the user; and a body change measuring unit to, when at least one of the values is further received through a function provided to the user at a conclusion of an application program selected by the user, measure a change in a body of the user by comparing the stored and maintained values with the further received values.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the training program information providing unit may further provide information about at least one of an alternative exercise and related stretching regimen for each training program.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user terminal including a training program information receiving unit to receive information about training programs from a social network training service system, a training program information displaying unit to display the received information about the training programs, and a training program information transmitting unit to transmit information about a training program selected by a user to the social network training service system, wherein a group may be formed among a plurality of users by the social network training service system, at least a portion of an exercise result of each of the users, input information input by each of the users, and body information of each of the users measured by measuring equipments of the users may be transmitted to the social network training service system, and at least some of the transmitted information may be provided to the user terminals of the users by the social network training service system to enable the users to share the information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a social network training service method including maintaining information about each training program produced for each of a plurality of trainers, providing information about each of the training programs to a user who requests a connection through a user terminal, and forming a group among a plurality users, receiving at least a portion of an exercise result of each of the users, inputting information input by each of the users, and body information of each of the users measured by measuring equipments of the users, and providing at least a portion of the received information to user terminals of the users to enable the users to share the information.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a social network training service method including receiving information about training programs from a social network training service system, displaying the received information about the training programs, and transmitting information about a training program selected by a user to the social network training service system, wherein a group may be formed among a plurality of users by the social network training service system, at least some of an exercise result of each of the users, input information input by each of the users, and body information of each of the users measured by measuring equipments of the users may be transmitted to the social network training service system, and at least some of the transmitted information may be provided to the user terminals of the users by the social network training service system to enable the user to share the information.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a proper exercise method may be conveyed to a user through a mentoring relationship with a trainer using a smart trainer application that operates in a mobile user terminal or a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like, so that the user may recognize the proper exercise method.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a user may be provided with training programs for each trainer using a smart trainer application to participate in a desired training program, and an exercise group may be formed among users participating in the same training program to construct a social network, so that the users of the exercise group may feel a sense of belonging and may be motivated.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, information about effects of a training program may be shared among users of an exercise group via a social network, and the users may determine satisfaction with training programs for each trainer directly, so that the users may check satisfaction with the training program of other users.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, users may search for exercise methods for each body part and for each exercise equipment, so that the users may recognize a more specific exercise method.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the smart trainer application may be operated in a mobile user terminal or a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like, so that the user terminal may participate in a social network and may display varied information received from a social network training service system through the smart trainer application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a social network training service system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying information about training programs for each trainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying the detailed information about a training program selected by a user in a mobile terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying information of a training program for each week, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the rating of perceived exertion according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display including information about alternative exercises, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display provided to a user at a conclusion of a training program, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a bulletin board according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a page for managing training programs selected by a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a page for searching for an exercise according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display supporting an exercise search for each body part and exercise equipment, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display providing a battle function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a specific goal selected using a battle function, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying the setting of a user profile according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a social network training service system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a social network training service method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a social network training service method performed by a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a social network training service system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a social network training service system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a plurality of mobile terminals 110 are shown. Here, a plurality of the mobile terminals 110 each may communicate with the social network training service system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention, through a smart trainer application installed and operating in each of a plurality of the mobile terminals 110. For example, when a smart trainer application installed in a mobile terminal operates, the operating smart trainer application may control a communication module of the mobile terminal to connect with the social network training service system 100 and to transmit/receive necessary information to/from the social network training service system 100.

The social network training service system 100 may maintain information about training programs produced for each of a plurality of trainers. In this instance, when a mobile terminal requests a connection to the social network training service system 100 under the control of the smart trainer application, the social network training service system 100 may provide information about training programs to the mobile terminal. Here, the information about training programs may include information on at least one of an exercise image, a trainer, an exercise intensity level, users who selected a corresponding training program, and the detailed description of a corresponding exercise, for each training program.

Also, the social network training service system 100 may recognize or identify a user of the mobile terminal based on the information transmitted through the mobile terminal. For example, the social network training service system 100 may receive an identifier and a password of a user from the mobile terminal and may recognize and identify the corresponding user.

The mobile terminal may display the information about training programs received through the social network training service system 100 on a screen under the control of the smart trainer application. In this instance, when at least one training program is selected by a user, the mobile terminal may provide the user with information about the selected training program using the received information about the training programs. In this instance, the mobile terminal may further receive more detailed information about a corresponding training program from the social network training service system 100 and may provide the information to the user.

The social network training service system 100 may relate and store information about users who selected a corresponding training program, for each training program, so that the social network training service system 100 may set the users who selected the same training program as an exercise group. In this instance, the social network training service system 100 may add information about the exercise group to the information about the training programs to be provided to the mobile terminal. For example, the mobile terminal may provide the user with information about the exercise group such as “00 participants participated” in training program A.

Hereinafter, “selecting” by the user of the content displayed on a screen of the mobile terminal may means an action such as touching or clicking performed by the user in an area corresponding to the content.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention only show a mobile user terminal for the convenience of description, the present invention is not limited thereto and may include a non-mobile user terminal such as a desktop computer and the like. That is, in FIG. 1, user terminals other than mobile terminals may be included in a plurality of the mobile terminals 110. For example, a trainer who produced a training program may visit a website provided by the social network training service system 100 through a personal computer to use a social network training service, and a user may also visit the website to use the social network training service. As another example, a social network training service may be provided from the social network training service system 100 through an application installed in a personal computer. Accordingly, all types of user terminals accessible to the social network training service system 100 via a wired/wireless network may be included in a plurality of the mobile terminals 110. Hereinafter, a description is provided by making use of a mobile terminal as an example.

Also, the social network training service system 100 may be linked with a plurality of measuring equipments of the users to further receive user body information measured by the measuring equipments. In this instance, when the measuring equipment is linked with the mobile terminal of the user, the user body information may be transmitted to the social network training service system 100 through the mobile terminal, and when the measuring equipment has a communication module, the user body information may be transmitted directly from the measuring equipment to the social network training service system 100.

At least some of the information transmitted to the social network training service system 100 may be transmitted to a plurality of the mobile terminals 110, so that the information may be shared by the users.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying information about training programs for each trainer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 200 may display a training program list. In this instance, the training program list may be displayed based on the information about training programs received by one mobile terminal from the social network training service system 100 as described in FIG. 1.

A first area 210 indicated by a dotted line box may display information about an exercise image, a trainer, an exercise intensity level, users who selected a corresponding training program, and a description of a corresponding exercise.

That is, the first area 210 may display a trainer name ‘Lim, Tae-Hwan’ of a corresponding training program as trainer information, ‘[basic]’ as information about an exercise intensity level, and ‘120 participants participated’ as information about users who selected the corresponding training program. Also, ‘making legs beautiful’ may be displayed as the description of a corresponding exercise. Here, the description of the corresponding exercise may be displayed as a name of the corresponding training program. Also, an area indicated by a solid line box in the first area 210 may display an exercise image of the corresponding exercise.

A second area 220 indicated as a dotted line box may also display information about an exercise image, a trainer, an exercise intensity level, users who selected a corresponding training program, and the description of a corresponding exercise. However, the information about the users displayed on the second area 220 may include information about how many users realized a training effect, on average, over a certain period of time, such as ‘99 participants obtained a training effect in 23 days on average’, beyond simple information of the number of participants. For this purpose, the social network training service system 100 may collect information, from users who succeeded in the training program, about a certain period of time over which a training effect is realized, and may calculate and provide information about how many participants realized a training effect, on average, over a certain period of time for each training program.

That is, the social network training service system and method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may provide information about exercise methods, and may offer a sense of belonging or motivation for each exercise group as well, thereby improving a training effect of users.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, when a user selects one training program, the more detailed information about the corresponding training program may be provided to the user.

A third area 310 indicated as a dotted line box may display an interface for selecting one of ‘details’, ‘mentoring’, and ‘battle’. A display 300 may display a page including information about selected ‘details’. A display displaying selected ‘mentoring’ or ‘battle’ will be described in more detail later with reference to the drawings.

A fourth area 320 indicated by a dotted line box may display general information about a corresponding training program including the basic description of the corresponding training program, an exercise principle, and a diet principle. A fifth area 330 indicated by a dotted line box may display interfaces for moving to a page including exercise information for each week. In this instance, the information or interfaces displayed on the fourth area 320 and the fifth area 330 may vary depending on training programs or trainers.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying information of a training program for each week, according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a user selects a ‘first to fourth weeks’ button in the fifth area 330 of the display 300 of FIG. 3, a display 400 may display exercise information about ‘first to fourth weeks’ of the corresponding training program.

An exercise image area 410 may display a representative exercise image of the corresponding training program, and a sixth area 420 indicated by a dotted line box may display exercise images of the corresponding training program in an exercise order.

A seventh area 430 indicated by a dotted line box may display the detailed information about an exercise to be done by a user during ‘first to fourth weeks’. Here, a question mark icon 440 may have a function of specifying the rating of perceived exertion. When the question mark icon 440 is selected, a page including the detailed description of the rating of perceived exertion may be provided. The page including the detailed description of the rating of perceived exertion will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

When an alternative exercise area 450 is selected, information about exercises alternative to an exercise to be currently done may be provided. When a related stretching area 460 is selected, information about a stretching regimen applicable between sets may be provided.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the rating of perceived exertion according to an embodiment of the present invention. A table 500 of FIG. 5 may be displayed on at least part of the screen of the mobile terminal. For example, the table 500 may be generated and exposed as a popup on the display 400 of FIG. 4 or may be added and exposed to a page displayed on the display 400. The rating of perceived exertion is a way of measuring the exercise intensity perceived by a user while the user is doing a corresponding exercise, as shown in FIG. 5. Referring to the table 500, the rating of perceived exertion of 5 may mean that a user is instructed to exercise with the intensity defined as “hard”.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display including information about alternative exercises, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a table 600 of FIG. 6 may be displayed on at least part of the screen of the mobile terminal. For example, the table 600 may be generated and exposed as a popup on the display 400 of FIG. 4 or may be added and exposed to a page displayed on the display 400.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the related stretching area 460 is selected, information about applicable stretching regimen may be also displayed on the display 400 of FIG. 4 or may be added and exposed to a page displayed on the display 400, like the table 600 of FIG. 6. Also, when an end area 470 of FIG. 4 is selected, a corresponding training service provided to the mobile terminal under the control of the smart trainer application may end. Before the corresponding training service ends, the mobile terminal may receive the rating of perceived exertion or a comment on the exercise from the user and may transmit the same to the social network training service system 100 of FIG. 1. In this instance, the social network training service system 100 may use the transmitted rating of perceived exertion in generating a statistical material for each training program, and may provide the input comment to users participating in the same training program by adding the comment to a bulletin board created regarding the corresponding program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display provided to a user at the end of a training program, according to an embodiment of the present invention. An exemplary display 700 may be provided to a user when a training program ends. That is, when the end area 470 of FIG. 4 is selected, a user interface such as the display 700 of FIG. 7 may be provided. The display 700 may include an area 710 for determining the rating of perceived exertion perceived during the corresponding training program, and an area 720 for inputting a comment on the corresponding training program.

In this instance, when a confirm button area 730 is selected, the determined rating of perceived exertion and the input comment may be each transmitted to the social network training service system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a bulletin board according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 800 may display a bulletin board for sharing opinions among users. In particular, the bulletin board may allow users to easily meet with opinions of other users since the bulletin board includes feedback information about the exercise intensity (the rating of perceived exertion) of the used training programs. Also, the bulletin board may enable users to communicate directly with a trainer.

That is, when a rating of 7 with respect to a perceived exertion is determined and a comment is input on the display 700 of FIG. 7, an eighth area 810 may display the bulletin board reflecting the determined rating of perceived exertion and the input comment. Also, when only a comment is input, the bulletin board may reflect only the input comment, and when only the rating of perceived exertion is determined, the bulletin board may reflect only the determined rating of perceived exertion.

Also, writing a comment in the bulletin board, that is, receiving a comment from a user may be made, when a write area 820 of the display 800 is selected by the user, as well as when a training program ends.

A user image of the display 800 may be a profile image set by each user.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a page for managing training programs selected by a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 900 may include a “my program” area for displaying training programs selected by a user, a “my profile” area for setting a profile of a user, and a “setting” area for setting an option of a smart trainer application. Here, the display 900 may display information about training programs selected by a user by the activation of the “my program” area.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a page for exercise search according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 1000 may display an exercise search for information about an exercise using a keyword. For example, a user may use an exercise search to obtain information about a desired exercise, or when the user adds a comment to the bulletin board, a user may use an exercise search to add information about a desired exercise together with the comment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display supporting an exercise search for each body part and exercise equipment selected, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 1100 may display a user interface allowing an exercise search for each body part and/or for exercise equipment available during exercise. For example, a user may search for an exercise method using dumbbells for shoulders. Accordingly, even beginners may search for suitable exercise methods easily and simply.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display providing a battle function according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 1200 may display specific goals that users of an exercise group, participating in the same training program, may use to compete with fellow group members. That is, a battle function may be provided in which each user may form a group with other users for a specific suggested goal and may compete (battle) with other groups.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying a specific goal selected by using a battle function, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A display 1300 may display the detailed description of the selected goal, a reward after winning a battle, and a penalty depending on conditions of a battle. Also, the display 1300 may display the state of each of a plurality of groups. In this instance, a user may select a specific group and may participate in a battle. The user participating in the battle may be provided with the information about participants of the corresponding group, and a specific photo or comment may be transmitted to the corresponding group to cheer the corresponding group (for example, providing a comment for mentoring on a corresponding training program to the members of the corresponding group), or may be transmitted to a competing group to attract the competing group (for example, transmitting a picture of food to the members of the competing group). Also, when the user selects a button area 1310 for recruiting supporters to encourage other users to participate in the battle based on phone numbers of a directory included in or linkable with the mobile terminal of the user. For example, the user may lead a friend to sign in to the social network training service to become a member of the group of the user, thereby naturally obtaining an advertising effect for the social network training service.

Although FIGS. 12 and 13 show that a battle is set based on a goal suggested for each specific training program, groups may be formed for a specific goal and then a training program for competition may be set, as necessary. In this instance, a leader of each group may be a trainer of a training program or one of general users elected through voting and the like.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display displaying the setting of a user profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. When “my profile” displayed on a display 1400 is selected, the user may be provided with a function for inputting user information such as a user image, a nickname, a birthday, and the like. The user information may be transmitted to the social network training service system 100 of FIG. 1, and may be used in adding a comment to a bulletin board or may be exposed to other users.

Also, when “body information” displayed on the display 1400 is selected, the user may be provided with a function of inputting a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user. Also, the user may be provided with the description of a method for measuring each value. Furthermore, a user may be provided with information calculated using the input values, such as a body mass index (BMI), a body fat percentage, a waist-hip ratio (WHR), and the like. The body information may be continuously received during a training program and may be used in measuring a change in body of the user. That is, the social network training service system 100 may use the values input by the user in managing body information of the user or measuring a training effect of the user. The user body information may be measured by the measuring equipment of FIG. 1 and may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of the user and to the social network training service system 100. Conversely, the user body information may be transmitted to the social network training service system 100 via the communication module of the measuring equipment and may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of the user again, so that the user body information may be displayed on the mobile terminal of the user.

Also, when “activity” displayed on the display 1400 is selected, the user may be provided with information about services used by the user such as a history of having produced a program, a history of having participated in a program, a history of having participated in a battle, a history of having exercised for each training program, and the like.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a social network training service system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A social network training service system 1500 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a training program information maintaining unit 1510, a training program information providing unit 1520, and an information sharing management unit 1530, as shown in FIG. 15.

The training program information maintaining unit 1510 may maintain information about training programs produced for each of a plurality of trainers. Here, the trainer may be a professional trainer or a general user who signed in to a social network training service. That is, when a general user produces and uploads a training program directly, the training program information maintaining unit 1510 may recognize the corresponding user as a trainer and may maintain information about a training program of the corresponding trainer associated with the corresponding user. Conversely, a trainer may participate in other training program as a general user.

The training program information providing unit 1520 may provide information about each of the training programs to a user who requests a connection through a mobile terminal. In this instance, the training program information providing unit 1520 may provide information about each of the training programs to the user who requests a connection through an application installed in the mobile terminal. Here, the application may correspond to the smart trainer application described in the foregoing. Also, the training program information providing unit 1520 may further provide information about at least one of an alternative exercise and related stretching regimen for each training program. A detailed description of the alternative exercise and the related stretching regimen is provided in the foregoing and a repeated description will be omitted here for conciseness.

The information sharing management unit 1530 may form a group among a plurality of users, may receive at least a portion of an exercise result of each user, input information input by each user, and body information of each user measured by measuring equipments of the users, and may provide at least some of the received information to the mobile terminals of the users to enable the users to share the information. In this instance, the information sharing management unit 1530 may identify a training program selected by the user based on the provided information, and may form a group among a plurality of the users for each training program. Here, the exercise result may include the rating of perceived exertion of the user for each training program and the comment input by the user as described with reference to FIG. 8, and the input information may include the profile information of the user as described with reference to FIG. 14. Also, at least one of a plurality of the users may include a trainer who produced the training program. In this instance, the training program information providing unit 1520 may further provide information input by the trainer to the mobile terminals of the users. That is, general users may be provided with mentoring by a trainer. For example, when a general user adds a comment including a question about an exercise to a bulletin board using a write function, a trainer of a corresponding training program may add a comment including a reply to the question of the general user participating in the training program of the trainer, associated with the comment written by the general user. That is, a communication may be enabled between the trainer and the user.

Also, the information sharing management unit 1530 may provide the users with a goal preset for each training program, may form and manage a plurality of groups set by the selection of the users for the goal, may calculate a target value for each of a plurality of the groups, and may determine a winner group and a loser group among a plurality of the groups. In this instance, the social network training service system 1500 may provide a predetermined reward to the winner group, and may provide a predetermined penalty to the loser group.

Also, the social network training service system 1500 may further include an exercise information providing unit (not shown) to provide information about at least one exercise method to the mobile terminal of the user based on set at least one of a body part and an exercise equipment selected by the user.

Also, the social network training service system 1500 may further include a user information maintaining unit (not shown) to receive, from the mobile terminal of the user, at least one value of a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user, and to store and maintain the value associated with the user, and a body change measuring unit (not shown) to measure a change in body of the user by comparing the stored and maintained value with a further received value when at least one of the values is further received through a function provided to the user at the end of an application program selected by the user.

The user body information may be measured by the measuring equipment described in the foregoing, and may be transmitted directly to the social network training service system 1500 via the communication module of the measuring equipment. Alternatively, when the measuring equipment is linked with the mobile terminal, the user body information may be transmitted to the social network training service system 1500 through the mobile terminal.

The social network training service system 1500 may recommend a training program for each of the users based on at least some of exercise results of the users and input information input by the users. For example, the information input by the users or exercise results obtained by executing a training program by the users may be accumulated on the social network training service system 1500 and may be organized in digital form, and the social network training service system 1500 may recommend to the users a training program that has been selected and succeeded in by persons with similar conditions to those of the users based on information such as training intention, available dates for training, current physical conditions of the users, and the like.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a social network training service method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The social network training service method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed by the social network training service system 1500 of FIG. 15.

In operation 1610, the social network training service system 1500 may maintain information of training programs produced for each of a plurality of trainers. Here, the trainer may be a professional trainer or a general user who signed in to a social network training service. That is, when a general user produces and uploads a training program directly, the social network training service system 1500 may recognize the corresponding user as a trainer and may maintain information about a training program of the corresponding trainer associated with the corresponding user. Conversely, a trainer may participate in other training programs as a general user.

In operation 1620, the social network training service system 1500 may provide information about each of the training programs to a user who requests a connection through a mobile terminal. In this instance, the social network training service system 1500 may provide information about each of the training programs to the user who requests a connection through an application installed in the mobile terminal. Here, the application may correspond to the smart trainer application described in the foregoing. Also, the social network training service system 1500 may further provide information about at least one of an alternative exercise and related stretching regimen for each training program. The detailed description of the alternative exercise and the related stretching regimen is provided in the foregoing and a repeated description will be omitted for conciseness.

In operation 1630, the social network training service system 1500 may form a group among a plurality of users, may receive at least some of an exercise result of each user, input information input by each user, and body information of each user measured by measuring equipments of the users, and may provide at least some of the received information to the mobile terminals of the users to enable the users to share the information. In this instance, the social network training service system 1500 may identify a training program selected by the user based on the provided information, and may form a group among a plurality of the users for each training program. Here, the exercise result may include the rating of perceived exertion of the user for each training program and the comment input by the user as described above with reference to FIG. 8, and the input information may include the profile information of the user as described above with reference to FIG. 14. Also, at least one of a plurality of the users may include a trainer who produced the training program. In this instance, the social network training service system 1500 may further provide information input by the trainer in operation 1620 to the mobile terminals of the users. That is, general users may be provided with mentoring by a trainer. For example, when a general user adds a comment including a question about an exercise to a bulletin board using a write function, a trainer of a corresponding training program may add a comment including a reply to the question of the general user participating in the training program of the trainer, associated with the comment written by the general user. That is, a communication may be enabled between the trainer and the user.

Also, the social network training service system 1500 may provide the users with a goal preset in operation 1630 for each training program, may form and manage a plurality of groups set by the selection of the users for the goal, may calculate a target value for each of a plurality of the groups, and may determine a winner group and a loser group among a plurality of the groups. In this instance, the social network training service system 1500 may provide a predetermined reward to the winner group, and may provide a predetermined penalty to the loser group.

Also, the social network training service system 1500 may further perform an operation (not shown) in which the mobile terminal of the user may be provided with information about at least one exercise method based on set at least one of a body part and an exercise equipment by the user.

Also, the social network training service system 1500 may further an operation (not shown) in which at least one value of a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user may be received from the mobile terminal of the user, and may be stored and maintained associated with the user, and an operation (not shown) in which when at least one of the values is further received through a function provided to the user at the end of an application program selected by the user, a change in body of the user may be measured by comparing the stored and maintained value with the further received value.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. A mobile terminal 1700 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a training program information receiving unit 1710, a training program information displaying unit 1720, and a training program information transmitting unit 1730, as shown in FIG. 17.

The training program information receiving unit 1710 may receive information about training programs from the social network training service system, and the training program information displaying unit 1720 may display the received information about the training programs. In this instance, since methods for receiving and displaying the information about the training programs and displaying the details of the training programs are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 13, a repeated description will be omitted for conciseness.

The training program information transmitting unit 1730 may transmit information about a training program selected by a user to the social network training service system. In this instance, a group may be formed among a plurality of users by the social network training service system. Also, at least some of an exercise result of each user, input information input by each user, and body information of each user measured by measuring equipments of the users may be transmitted to the social network training service system, and at least some of the transmitted information may be provided to the mobile terminals of the users by the social network training service system, so that the information may be shared among the users.

The social network training service system may provide information about each of the training programs to a user who requests a connection through an application installed in the mobile terminal 1700. Here, the application may correspond to the smart trainer application described in the foregoing.

Also, the social network training service system may further provide information about at least one of an alternative exercise and related stretching regimen for each training program. A detailed description of the alternative exercise and the related stretching regimen is made in detail the foregoing and a repeated description will be omitted for conciseness.

The social network training service system may identify the training program selected by the user based on the provided information, and may form a group among a plurality of the users, for each training program. Here, the exercise result may include a rating of a perceived exertion of the user for each training program and the comment input by the user as described with reference to FIG. 8, and the input information may include the profile information of the user as described with reference to FIG. 14. Also, at least one of a plurality of the users may include a trainer who produced the training program. In this instance, the social network training service system may further provide information input by the trainer to the mobile terminals of the users. That is, general users may be provided with mentoring by a trainer. For example, when a general user adds a comment including a question about an exercise to a bulletin board using a write function, a trainer of a corresponding training program may add a comment including a reply to the question of the general user participating in the training program of the trainer, associated with the comment written by the general user. That is, a communication may be enabled between the trainer and the user.

Also, the social network training service system may provide users with a preset goal for each training program, may form and manage a plurality of groups set by the selection of the users for the goal, may calculate a target value for each of a plurality of the groups, and may determine a winner group and a loser group among a plurality of the groups. In other words, information about the goal, information about a plurality of the groups, and information about the winner group and the loser group may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 1700 of the user, and attendance information of the user, that is, information about a history of having connected to the social network training service system through the mobile terminal 1700 or body information of the user may be transmitted to the social network training service system and may be used in calculating a target value In this instance, a predetermined reward may be provided to the winner group and a predetermined penalty may be provided to the loser group by the social network training service system.

Also, the social network training service system may provide the mobile terminal of the user with information about at least one exercise method based on set at least one of a body part and an exercise equipment by the user.

Also, the social network training service system may further receive, from the mobile terminal of the user, at least one value of a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user, and may store and maintain the value associated with the user, and when at least one of the values is further received through a function provided to the user at the end of an application program selected by the user, may measure a change in body of the user by comparing the stored and maintained value with the further received value.

The user body information may be measured by the measuring equipment described in the foregoing, and may be transmitted directly to the social network training service system via the communication module of the measuring equipment. Alternatively, when the measuring equipment is linked with the mobile terminal 1700, the user body information may be transmitted to the social network training service system through the linked mobile terminal 1700.

The social network training service system may recommend a training program for each of the users based on at least some of exercise results of the users and input information input by the users. For example, the information input by the users or exercise results obtained by executing a training program by the users may be accumulated on the social network training service system and may be organized in digital form, and the social network training service system may recommend the users a training program that has been selected and succeeded in by persons with similar conditions to those of the users based on information such as training intention, available dates for training, current physical conditions of the users, and the like.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a social network training service method performed by a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. A social network training service method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed by the mobile terminal 1700 of FIG. 17.

In operation 1810, the mobile terminal 1700 may receive information about the training programs from the social network training service system, and in operation 1820, may display the received information about the training programs. In this instance, since the detailed description of methods for receiving and displaying the information about the training programs and displaying the details of the training programs are made in detail above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 13, the repetitive description is omitted.

In operation 1830, the mobile terminal 1700 may transmit information about a training program selected by a user to the social network training service system. In this instance, a group may be formed among a plurality of users by the social network training service system. Also, at least some of an exercise result of each user, input information input by each user, and body information of each user measured by measuring equipments of the users may be transmitted to the social network training service system, and at least some of the transmitted information may be provided to the mobile terminals of the users by the social network training service system so that the information may be shared among the users. In this instance, the mobile terminal 1700 also may be included in the mobile terminals of the users.

The social network training service system may provide information about each of training programs to a user who requests a connection through an application installed in the mobile terminal 1700. Here, the application may correspond to the smart trainer application described in the foregoing.

Also, the social network training service system may further provide the mobile terminal 1700 with information about at least one of an alternative exercise and related stretching regimen for each training program. A detailed description of the alternative exercise and the related stretching regimen is made in detail in the forgoing and a repeated description will be omitted for conciseness.

The social network training service system may identify the training program selected by the user based on the provided information, and may form a group among a plurality of users for each training program. Here, the exercise result may include the rating of perceived exertion of the user for each training program and the comment input by the user as described above with reference to FIG. 8, and the input information may include the profile information of the user as described above with reference to FIG. 14. Also, at least one of a plurality of the users may include a trainer who produced the training program. In this instance, the social network training service system may further provide information input by the trainer to the mobile terminals of the users. That is, general users may be provided with mentoring by a trainer. For example, when a general user adds a comment including a question about an exercise to a bulletin board using a write function, a trainer of a corresponding training program may add a comment including a reply to the question of the general user participating in the training program of the trainer, associated with the comment written by the general user. That is, a communication may be enabled between the trainer and the user.

Also, the social network training service system may provide the users with a goal preset for each training program, may form and manage a plurality of groups set by the selection of the users for the goal, may calculate a target value for each of a plurality of the groups, and may determine a winner group and a loser group among a plurality of the groups. In other words, information about the goal, information about a plurality of the groups, and information about the winner group and the loser group may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 1700 of the user, and attendance information of the user, that is, information about a history of having connected to the social network training service system through the mobile terminal 1700 or body information of the user may be transmitted to the social network training service system and may be used in calculating a target value. In this instance, a predetermined reward may be provided to the winner group and a predetermined penalty may be provided to the loser group by the social network training service system.

Also, the social network training service system may provide the mobile terminal 1700 of the user with information about at least one exercise method based on set at least one of a body part and an exercise equipment by the user.

Also, the social network training service system may further receive, from the mobile terminal 1700 of the user, at least one value of a height, a weight, a body fat level, a muscle mass, a neck circumference, a chest circumference, an abdomen circumference, a hip circumference, an arm circumference, and a thigh circumference of the user, and may store and maintain the values associated with the user, and when at least one of the values is further received through a function provided to the user at the end of an application program selected by the user, may measure a change in a body of the user by comparing the stored and maintained value with the further received value.

A training program may be recommended for each user by the social network training service system based on at least some of exercise results of the users and input information input by the users. For example, information input by the users or exercise results obtained by executing a training program by the users may be accumulated on the social network training service system and may be organized in digital form, and the social network training service system may recommend the users a training program that has been selected and succeeded in by persons with similar conditions to those of the users based on information such as training intention, available dates for training, current physical conditions of the users, and the like.

FIGS. 1 to 14 may be referred to for descriptions omitted in FIGS. 15 to 18. Also, as described in the foregoing, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like, as well as a mobile user terminal, and may also be applied to at least one of all user terminals accessible to the social network training service system 110 via a wired/wireless network.

As described in the foregoing, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may enable a user to recognize a proper exercise method by conveying the proper exercise method to the user through a mentoring relationship with a trainer using a smart trainer application that operates in a mobile user terminal or a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may provide a user with training programs for each trainer using a smart trainer application to enable the user to participate in a desired training program, and may form an exercise group among users participating in the same training program to construct a social network, so that the users of the exercise group may feel a sense of belonging and may be given motivation. Also, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may enable users of an exercise group to share the effect of a training program via a social network, and may enable a user to determine satisfaction directly with a training program for each trainer, so that the user may check the training program satisfaction of other users. Also, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may enable users to search for an exercise method for each body part and for exercise equipment selected, so that the users may recognize a more specific exercise method. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may operate the foregoing smart trainer application in a mobile user terminal or a wired user terminal such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, and the like, so that the user terminal may participate in a social network and may display varied information received from the social network training service system through the smart trainer application.

The above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM discs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical discs; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, or vice versa.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Social Network Training Service System and Method Using Smart Trainer Application

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