GB2477323A

GB2477323A - Exercise equipment usage monitoring method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2477323A
Application number: GB1001510A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rhoderick Euan Mcgown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-01
Filing date: 2010-02-01
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: GB201001510D0

Abstract

A method of monitoring the use of exercise equipment at an exercise facility having a plurality of items of exercise equipment, the method comprising providing a plurality of usage monitors 2 and 4 for monitoring the usage of the items exercise equipment and then calculating the proportion of the period of time during which respective items of exercise equipment are used. The monitors 2 and 4 may be configured to allow monitoring of both when a machine is occupied and when it is in use. Sensors used for detection of these factors may include, heat sensors, thermocouples, infra red cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, vibration sensors or pressure sensors. A variety of graphical representations may be prepared of the usage of items of exercise equipment at each of a plurality of locations within the exercise facility. Apparatus to perform the usage monitoring is also claimed.

Description

1 Exercise Eciuipment Usage Monitoring Method and Apparatus

3 Field of the invention

The invention relates to exercise equipment and methods to monitor and measure 6 the usage of items of exercise equipment within an exercise facility.

8 Background to the invention

In recent years, personal fitness and general good health have been brought to the 11 forefront of the public consciousness. As a result exercise facilities, such as 12 gymnasiums, have seen an increase in demand for their services, putting greater 13 pressures on them to provide the products which the public want. Each gymnasium 14 has only a limited amount of floor space within which they can make various items of exercise equipment available for their members. As a result a high priority for the 16 gymnasium owners is to ensure that they provide the right number of the right items 17 of exercise equipment within the space they have available. Therefore it is desirable 18 to provide a solution which enables gymnasium owners to maximise use of the floor 19 space they have.

21 Some methods of monitoring exercise equipment in other ways to those described 22 below and for other purposes are known. These include providing feedback to the 23 user on user performance (US 6059692, Hickman), a monitoring and billing means 24 (US 6656091 B, Abelbeck et al.; US 2005240417, Savage) and a method of 1 predicting when equipment maintenance will be required (WO 2006087738 A, Camax 2 S.A.). These methods provide the facility owners with data, such as which item of 3 exercise equipment is used by which customer, but does not give them accurate data 4 on the proportion of time for which a machine is occupied and therefore not available for other customers, whether or not it is in use. If a machine is occupied but not in 6 use, it is unavailable for other gymnasium members and this occupancy period 7 should ideally be taken into account when determining the selection of items of 8 exercise equipment provided within an exercise facility.

Additionally, the above mentioned methods do not provide data concerning usage at 11 specific times of the day or details of the specific types of exercise equipment used.

12 It would be advantageous to provide improved apparatus and methods for collecting 13 usage data which is more useful to the proprietors of exercise facilities to make 14 resource allocation decisions.

16 Further, the monitoring apparatus disclosed in the above patent documents takes the 17 form of permanent additions to the items of exercise equipment and may require 18 custom exercise equipment to be used, or permanent customisation of the existing 19 exercise equipment, causing inconvenience and not inconsiderable cost to the facility owner.

22 Some aspects of the current invention aim to overcome these problems by providing 23 an exercise equipment monitoring method and apparatus to record data including the 24 usage and occupancy time for each item of exercise equipment over a limited time period, reducing the cost and inconvenience of the total monitoring process.

27 Summary of the invention

29 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring the use of exercise equipment at an exercise facility, having a plurality of items of 31 exercise equipment, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of 32 usage monitors, each usage monitor associated with an item of exercise equipment 33 and operable to detect whether the respective item of exercise equipment is being 34 operated at a given time; monitoring the usage of the said plurality of the items of exercise equipment concurrently using the said usage monitors, and thereby 36 calculating, for at least some of the items of exercise equipment, a measurement 1 related to the proportion of a period of time during which one or more respective 2 items of exercise equipment are used.

4 It may be that the calculated measurement related to the proportion of the period of time during which one or more respective items of exercise equipment are used is a 6 measurement related to the proportion of the period of time during which the one or 7 more respective items of exercise equipment are operated.

9 However, preferably, at least some of the said usage monitors are operable to detect whether a user is occupying the respective item of exercise equipment at a given time 11 and the calculated measurement related to the proportion of the period of time during 12 which one or more respective items of exercise equipment are used is related to the 13 proportion of the period of time during which the one or more respective items of 14 exercise equipment are either or both operated and occupied.

16 By detecting whether a user is occupying the respective item of exercise equipment 17 we refer to detecting whether a user is occupying the respective item of exercise 18 equipment by a method which is able to detect occupation of the one or more 19 respective items of exercise equipment independently of whether it or they are being operated.

22 The calculated measurement related to the proportion of the period of time during 23 which the one or more respective items of exercise equipment are used (e.g. 24 operated, or either or both operated and occupied, as appropriate) may be a measure of the period of time during which the one or more respective items of exercise 26 equipment are not in use (e.g. not operated, or neither operated nor occupied, as 27 appropriate).

29 The period of time may be longer than a day. However, the period of time may be a portion of day, for example, an hour. The method may comprise calculating an 31 average (e.g. mean, median or mode) of measurements taken during the same 32 period of time on a plurality of different days. Preferably, the method comprises the 33 step of calculating averages of measurements taken on a plurality of different days at 34 each of a plurality of different times to prepare a profile of average use at different times of day. This enables the proprietor of an exercise facility to identify times of 36 peak use and to take into account average use at peak times.

1 The calculated measurements may concern a single item of exercise equipment.

2 However, preferably, the method comprises the step of calculating measurements 3 related to the proportion of a period of time during which one or more of a group of a 4 plurality of items of exercise equipment are used, or the average proportion of the items of exercise equipment within a group which are used concurrently. A group of 6 a plurality of items of exercise equipment may be a group of items of exercise 7 equipment with equivalent function (e.g. rowing machines, biceps curl resistance 8 machines, lateral pulldown machines etc.). However, a group of a plurality of items of 9 exercise equipment may be a group of items of items of exercise equipment which fall into a particular category (e.g. cardiovascular exercise machines, resistance 11 machines) or a group of items of exercise equipment which are located close to each 12 other. The items of exercise equipment may comprise one or more of cardiovascular 13 exercise machines and resistance machines.

The calculated measurement may relate to the proportion of time at least one of the 16 items of exercise equipment in a group of items of exercise equipment are used (e.g. 17 operated, or either or both operated and occupied), or the proportion of time at least 18 one of the items of exercise equipment in a group of items of exercise equipment is 19 not used (e.g. not operated, or neither operated nor occupied). This enables a proprietor of an exercise facility to determine for what proportion of a period of time at 21 least one item of exercise equipment in a group of items is available for use.

23 The calculated measurement may be related to the available capacity of items of 24 exercise equipment in a particular group (e.g. of a particular type) provided in the exercise facility. For example, the calculated measurement may be a function of (e.g. 26 proportional to) the proportion of a period of time during which one or more respective 27 items of exercise equipment are used (e.g. operated, or either or both operated and 28 occupied, as appropriate) and a function of (e.g. inversely proportional to) the 29 proportion of the items of exercise equipment provided in the exercise facility represented by the said one or more respective items of exercise equipment. The 31 method may comprise the step of calculating a measure of the relative usage (e.g. 32 operated, or either or both operated and occupied, as appropriate) of the one or more 33 respective items of exercise equipment relative to the proportion of the items of 34 exercise equipment provided in the exercise facility represented by the said one or more respective items of exercise equipment. The calculated measurement may be 36 related to the proportion of the period of time during which the one or more respective 37 items of exercise equipment would have been used if all of the items of exercise 1 equipment which have usage monitors associated therewith were used for equal 2 periods of time.

4 The calculated measurement may be related to the location of individual items or groups of items of exercise equipment. Thus, a calculated measurement may 6 concern the proportion of a period of time during which items of exercise equipment 7 at each of a plurality of locations within the exercise facility are used. The method 8 may comprise the step of receiving the position of an item of exercise equipment, 9 calculating occupancy and usage from data received from the item of exercise equipment and using the position of the item of exercise equipment to calculate a 11 map of the usage, occupancy or both usage and occupancy of items of exercise 12 equipment by position. The position of items of exercise equipment may be obtained 13 by manually entering position data, measuring the position of individual items of 14 exercise equipment, for example by measuring the location of the respective usage monitor. The usage monitor may comprise a position monitor. The map may be 16 calculated for either individual items of exercise equipment or for groups of items of 17 exercise equipment, for example grouped together by type of exercise equipment.

18 The map may represent usage or occupancy of items of exercise equipment by a 19 contour plot or "heat map" colouring scheme in which portions of a diagram of the exercise facility, or part thereof, are coloured according to usage of items of exercise 21 equipment at that location. Such a representation of the calculated data would allow 22 areas of high usage or occupancy to be readily and intuitively determined. The map is 23 typically displayed by way of a screen.

The exercise facility is typically a gymnasium but may be a room or complex of rooms 26 located within the same building and having the exercise equipment therein.

28 Typically the usage monitor comprises at least one sensor and a communication 29 interface by which the data produced by the at least one sensor is transmitted to a data recorder.

32 A data recorder may be provided to receive data from a plurality of usage monitors, 33 each of which is associated with one of a plurality of items of exercise equipment.

34 Some or all of the usage monitors may further comprise a data logger that locally stores data produced by the at least one sensor. The data logger may comprise a 36 clock and be operable to time stamp the data produced by the at least one sensor.

37 The data logger may further comprise a communication interface operable to transmit 1 stored data from the data logger to a said data recorder which data recorder is 2 operable to receive, record, and typically also process, data from a plurality of usage 3 monitors. The communication interface may be a wired or wireless communication 4 interface.

6 Preferably, the at least one sensor is operable to detect whether an item of exercise 7 equipment is occupied. At least one sensor may be operable to detect whether an 8 item of exercise equipment is being operated. The same at least one sensor may be 9 operable to detect whether an item of exercise equipment is being operated and, independently, whether the item of exercise equipment is being occupied.

12 Typically, the sensor type will be dependent on the type of the item of exercise 13 equipment to be monitored using that sensor. For items of equipment where a saddle 14 or seat is provided, such as cycling or rowing machines, a heat sensor, such as a thermocouple, located in or on the saddle may be employed to detect the body of the 16 user if they are seated on the equipment, and so record the device occupancy. For 17 items of equipment with parts which move when the equipment is in operation, such 18 as resistance machines, one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a 19 vibration sensor can be used to detect the motion and thereby sense that the item of equipment is being operated. With appropriate data processing apparatus one or 21 more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a vibration sensor can be used to discern 22 vibrations causes by a person sitting a seat of the item of exercise equipment and 23 thereby occupying the item of equipment, even if the item of exercise equipment is 24 not actually operated.

26 Typically, for items of exercise equipment which a user mounts, such as a treadmill, 27 exercise bike or weights bench, the at least one sensor may comprise a load monitor, 28 mounted such that the load on the item of exercise equipment may be measured.

29 The at least one sensor may determine the occupancy of the item of exercise equipment by detecting a change in load. For example, an increase in measured 31 load may indicate that the item of exercise equipment has become occupied, and a 32 decrease in measured load may indicate that the item of exercise equipment has 33 become unoccupied. Alternatively, there may be set a threshold load above which 34 the item of exercise equipment is determined to be occupied. The at least one sensor may be mounted directly beneath the item of exercise equipment or beneath 36 the surface the item of exercise equipment is itself mounted upon. The at least one 37 sensor may be a pressure sensor.

2 Preferably, the or each usage monitor is demountably retrofittable to standard 3 exercise equipment, without the standard exercise equipment needing to be modified, 4 such that the usage monitor can be detached, after sufficient data has been collected for example. Thus, the method may comprise providing a plurality of items of 6 exercise equipment already within the exercise facility with a usage monitor.

7 However, the usage monitor may be integrated permanently into the item of exercise 8 equipment and so the method may comprise providing a plurality of items of exercise 9 equipment with integral usage monitors at the exercise facility.

11 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a usage monitor for 12 monitoring the usage of exercise equipment, the usage monitor comprising at least 13 one sensor and a communication interface.

At least one said sensor may be an occupancy sensor operable to determine whether 16 an item of exercise equipment is being occupied.

18 At least one said sensor may be an operation sensor operable to determine whether 19 an item of exercise equipment is being operated.

21 At least one said sensor may be operable to determine whether an item of exercise 22 equipment is being occupied and operated.

24 The communication interface may be a wired or wireless interface operable to communicate electronically with a data recorder, which may be portable. Typically, 26 the data recorder is a computer operable to receive data from the usage monitor by 27 way of a wireless or wired communication interface and to record and analyse data 28 received, and display calculated measurements to a user.

Preferably the usage monitor is demountably attachable to an item of exercise 31 equipment. However, the usage monitor may be integral to the item of exercise 32 equipment. The usage monitor may comprise a fixture for demountably attaching the 33 usage monitor to an item of exercise equipment.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising a 36 plurality of usage monitors according to the second aspect of the invention, each of 37 which is attached to a respective item of exercise equipment, and a computing device 1 operable to receive data from each of the plurality of usage monitors and calculated 2 measurements related to the proportion of a period of time during which one or more 3 respective items of exercise equipment are used.

Preferably, the plurality of usage monitors are operable to time stamp data as it is 6 recorded.

8 Preferably, some or all of the plurality of usage monitors are demountably attachable 9 to a respective item of exercise equipment. Nevertheless, some or all of the plurality of usage devices may be integral to an item of exercise equipment.

12 The data from some of the plurality of usage monitors may be grouped. For example, 13 the data may be grouped by type of exercise equipment from which the data is 14 recorded.

16 In addition, the data may be analysed to reveal information pertaining to exercise 17 equipment usage at peak times of the day, for example, between the hours of 5 and 18 7pm during the week. Data analysed by this method may enable the capacity of 19 exercise equipment within a facility to better match the demand.

21 The system may further comprise a user interface, such as a display and one or more 22 input peripherals (e.g. a keyboard, touch screen interface, a mouse or other pointing 23 device) to enable a user to carry out one or more functions selected from: inputting 24 data concerning the items of exercise equipment provided at the exercise facility, group items of exercise equipment, and selecting visual presentations of calculated 26 data concerning usage of items, or groups of items, of exercise equipment.

28 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of 29 exercise equipment comprising a usage monitor operable to determine whether the item of exercise equipment is being either or both operated and occupied, the monitor 31 comprising a sensor which is operable to determine whether the item of exercise 32 equipment is being occupied independently of whether it is being operated.

34 The usage monitor may also comprise a sensor which is operable to determine whether the item of exercise equipment is being operated. The usage monitor may 36 be demountably attachable to the item of exercise equipment. The usage monitor 1 may be integral to the item of exercise equipment. The sensor may be a heat sensor, 2 for example a thermocouple or an infra-red camera.

4 Optional features described in relation to any one of the four aspects of the invention are optional features of any of the four aspects of the invention.

7 Description of the Drawings

9 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which: 12 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a usage monitor; 14 Figure 2 is a side view of an exercise bike having a usage monitor according to the invention; 17 Figure 3 is a plan view of the saddle of the exercise bike having a usage monitor 18 according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exercise bike pedal with the operation monitor 21 attached; 23 Figure 5 is a side view of a treadmill with a usage monitor according to the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of graphical output from a data recorder showing 26 the average percentage usage of individual items of exercise equipment during a 27 defined period of time (upper chart), and the same data expressed as average 28 percentage availability (lower chart); Figure 7 illustrates average percentage usage of groups of items of exercise 31 equipment (upper chart), and more detailed information of usage of individual items 32 of exercise equipment responsive to selection of one of the groups (lower chart); 34 Figure 8 illustrates the usage of different groups of items of exercise equipment during the course of a day; 37 Figure 9 illustrates the cost per hour of use of items of exercise equipment; 2 Figure 10 illustrates example graphical outputs showing equipment usage relative to 3 capacity; and Figure 11 illustrates an example graphical output showing equipment usage 6 according to location.

8 Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment

With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a usage monitor for monitoring the usage of exercise 11 equipment comprises an occupancy sensor 2, an operation sensor 4, a 12 communication interface 6 and an attachment means, and a plurality of said usage 13 monitors comprising a network communicating electronically with a central recording 14 system comprising a computer 8 and display means 10.

16 The described first embodiment is for a usage monitor monitoring an exercise bike 12 17 in a gymnasium, but similar usage monitors can applied to any item of exercise 18 equipment. The attachment means can be a an adhesive pad, a magnet, one or 19 more apertures for receiving a strap, or a strap which is integral to the usage monitor 21 The exercise bike comprises a saddle 14, a pair of pedals 16 mounted around a 22 single axle 18 such that they may rotate about the single axle, a wheel 20 connected 23 to the single axle by a linkage 22 such that rotation of the single axle is coupled to 24 rotation of the wheel, and a pair of handle bars 24. The exercise bike will be understood to be occupied when a user is sitting on the saddle and the exercise bike 26 will be understood to be in operation if the pedals are being driven around the axle.

27 The user may rest their arms or hands on the pair of handle bars whilst the exercise 28 bike is being occupied or in operation.

A usage monitor for the exercise bike comprises two discrete units; an occupancy 31 monitor 26 and an operation monitor 28.

33 The occupancy monitor comprises a heat sensor 30, such as a thermocouple, 34 reversibly mounted underneath the upper surface of the saddle such that the heat sensor is in thermal contact with the upper surface of the saddle and in electrical 36 contact with communication interface 32. The heat sensor is attached to the 37 communication interface via a wire 34 such that the communication interface is 1 mounted underneath the saddle. The heat sensor detects the body heat of a user 2 when the user is sat on the saddle and the resulting data is time stamped and sent 3 via the communication interface to a remote data recording system for analysis.

The operation monitor comprises an accelerometer 36 and a communication 6 interface 38 reversibly attached to the side of one of the pedals 40 on the far side of 7 the axle 18. The accelerometer detects the acceleration of the pedals as they are 8 driven around the axle and the data produced is sent via the communication interface 9 to a remote data recording system where the data is time stamped and analysed.

11 In both the operation monitor and the occupation monitor, the communication 12 interface may be a wired connection, for example a USB 2.0 or FireWire IEEE-i 394a 13 connection, or a wireless connection such as an IR transmitter, Wi-fi or Bluetooth 14 IEEE Standard 802.15.1.

16 The usage monitor is most effective when a plurality of usage monitors are used with 17 a plurality of items of exercise equipment concurrently within a single exercise facility.

18 Figure 5 illustrates a usage monitor monitoring the use of a treadmill in a gymnasium.

A treadmill 42 comprises a control means 44, a base 46 and a surface which may be 21 controllably revolvable 48 such that a user can run on the surface whilst remaining 22 stationary. When a treadmill is operated the revolving of the surface produces 23 vibrations of the base, vibrations that are accentuated when a user runs on said 24 surface.

26 A usage monitor 50 for the treadmill comprises a single unit comprising an occupancy 27 sensor 52, an operation sensor 54 and a communication interface 56. The 28 occupancy sensor is an infra-red sensor operable to detect a body emitting infra-red 29 radiation, such as a user, within the range of the infra-red sensor. The usage monitor is positioned on the treadmill such that the infra-red sensor may detect a user when 31 they occupy the treadmill, whether they are sitting, standing or running on the 32 treadmill. The operation sensor is an accelerometer operable to detect the vibrations 33 of the base produced when the treadmill is in operation. The usage monitor is 34 positioned on the treadmill such that the accelerometer is in contact with the base.

36 Data produced by the operation sensor and the occupation sensor is transmitted to a 37 data recorder via the communication interface which may be a wired connection, for 1 example a USB 2.0 or FireWire IEEE-1394a connection, or a wireless connection 2 such as an IR transmitter, Wi-fl or Bluetooth IEEE Standard 802.15.1.

4 The data recorder may be a computer comprising a communication interface, a data storage device, a processor, a display device, such as a monitor and user input 6 peripherals, such as a keyboard and a pointing device. Data may be stored by the 7 usage monitors and then retrieved periodically by the data recorder, for example, by 8 a user carrying the remote recording system around the exercise facility. In some 9 embodiments, the usage monitors can communicate continuously or periodically with the data recorder and so it is not essential for the usage monitors to store data 11 locally. Typically, usage data (such as whether an item of exercise equipment is 12 being occupied and whether an item of exercise equipment is being operated at a 13 given time) is stored with reference to the time at which that data was measured. A 14 time stamp may be applied by the usage monitor or, if data is relayed quickly to the data recorded, the data recorder can store the data with reference to the time at 16 which it is received by the data recorded.

18 Generally, usage data is stored with reference to the position of the item of exercise 19 equipment the usage data originates from.

21 The processor is operable to analyse the data received from a plurality of usage 22 monitors and to prepare appropriate output. Statistics may be presented concerning 23 the proportion of a period of time that an item of exercise equipment is used (e.g. 24 operated or occupied) or the period of time that the item of exercise equipment is not used (e.g. neither operated nor occupied). The ability of the usage monitors to 26 measure whether an item of exercise equipment is being occupied, whether or not it 27 is being operated, means that the resulting data is of more practical use to the 28 proprietor of the exercise facility than if the usage monitors only measured whether 29 an item of exercise equipment is being operated. Statistics can be calculated concerning the proportion of a group of items of exercise equipment which are being 31 used, or the period of time that at least one of a group of items of exercise equipment 32 are used, or the period of time that least one of a group of items of exercise 33 equipment are not being used.

In some embodiments, the processor is operable to analyse the positional data and 36 usage data to calculate a data map whereby the pattern of usage by location may be 37 determined. The data map typically comprises a two dimensional representation of 1 the exercise facility divided into areas containing specific exercise equipment, for 2 example, an area containing treadmills. The areas of the data map may be sub- 3 divided to show the positions of individual items of exercise equipment. The areas or 4 sub-divided areas are generally colour coded depending on the relative usage of items of exercise equipment within the respective area or sub-divided area.

7 Figure 6 illustrates example graphical output displayed on a monitor concerning two 8 example measurements related to the proportion of a period of time during which one 9 or more respective items of exercise equipment are used. A user may select a period of time using selectable user interface elements 60, for example using a computer 11 mouse. For example, a user might select the period of time from 1700 to 1900 during 12 week days. The proportion of the selected period of time of day, averaged over the 13 selected days, for which each individual item of exercise equipment in an exercise 14 facility is used (e.g. operation, or preferably either or both operation or occupation) is illustrated, as a percentage, in the upper chart. A user may select an alternative 16 option and view the same data expressed as a proportion of the selected period of 17 time of day for which the same individual items of exercise equipment are unused.

18 This is illustrated in the lower chart in Figure 6.

Rather than presenting data concerning the usage of individual items of exercise 21 equipment, the computer may present statistics concerning the usage of groups of 22 items of exercise equipment, for example, the proportion of time that at least one 23 treadmill or exercise bike, or another type of exercise machine, is available. This is of 24 practical importance as the period of time during which none of a category of machine is available is significant as this is the period of time during which a user cannot 26 choose to carry out a particular type of exercise.

28 The upper chart in Figure 7 illustrates output in which the average percentage usage 29 (e.g. operation, or preferably either or both operation or occupation) of items of exercised equipment in four different user selected groups (free weights, cardio, 31 machines, cable machines) is displayed using separate bars for each group. A user 32 may select an individual group and view the usage of individual items of exercise 33 equipment within the selected group. An example of a resulting image is shown in 34 the lower chart in Figure 7.

36 Data concerning different periods of time may be presented together to provide an 37 overview of usage (e.g. operation, or preferably either or both operation or 1 occupation) over a longer period of time. For example, Figure 8 illustrates a graph of 2 example usage of the four different group of machines referred to in Figure 7 at an 3 exercise facility over the course of the day.

Data can also be calculated which takes into account the relative cost of different 6 items of exercise equipment, or groups of items of exercise equipment. For example, 7 Figure 9 includes a chart of the cost of various example items of exercise equipment 8 and the average number of hours for which each is used during a week and therefore 9 calculates and average cost per hour for which the item is used, which is displayed in graphical format in the lower chart.

12 One presentation of the data that has been found to be of particular use is a chart, or 13 other visual representation, which shows the proportion of a period of time in which 14 an item of exercise equipment, or group of items of exercise equipment within a particular category, are occupied or operated, as a fraction of the sum of the amount 16 of time for which all of the monitored items of exercise equipment at a facility, or a 17 suitable subset thereof, are used. This measurement is shown as % relative usage in 18 the upper chart in Figure 10. This is compared with the proportion of the total amount 19 of the available capacity at the facility represented by the item of exercise equipment, or group of items of exercise equipment. This measurement is shown as % capacity 21 in the lower chart in Figure 10. The difference between these two measurements is 22 also shown in the lower chart in Figure 10 and this provides a useful visual 23 representation of the proportion of a period of time for which one or more items or 24 categories of item of exercise machine are in use relative to the availability of those items or categories of item. In effect exercise equipment with a positive difference 26 between relative usage and capacity are those in highest demand, and exercise 27 equipment with a negative difference between relative usage and capacity are those 28 that are least in demand. Gymnasium owners may then better match the capacity of 29 the exercise equipment available at their facility with demand.

31 Once the facility owner has used the produced data to, for example, maximise the 32 availability of items of exercise equipment under the highest demand during the 33 above peak times, the plurality of usage monitors may be removed from the items of 34 exercise equipment. Thus, the plurality of usage monitors may be used on a temporary basis on standard exercise equipment, reducing the cost and 36 inconvenience of the service. The removed plurality of usage monitors may then be 37 used in another facility.

2 Alternatively, the plurality of usage monitors may be integrated into the items of 3 exercise equipment and used on a permanent basis to provide ongoing feedback to 4 the facility owner.

6 Further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention 7 herein disclosed.