An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an
associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation
and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a
remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium preferably including
the Internet that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication
between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local
system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus,
and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning
the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls
the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in
a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system.
A method for controlling an exercise apparatus includes running a modifiable script
on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of an exercise
apparatus, and communicating with a remote system, preferably via the Internet,
to provide the remote system with data concerning the use of the exercise apparatus.
The script is stored in read/write memory of the local computer and remote system
data received from the remote system may include at least a portion of a new script
to be stored in the read/write memory of the local computer.
