Entertainment content-based exercise machine workout intensity control system

Abstract

A computer-implemented method uses entertainment content to automatically control an exercise machine to adjust an intensity of a user workout. A content player plays entertainment content that is presented to a user. The entertainment content is tagged with intensity and timing annotations correlating to attributes of the entertainment content at various points in time. Based on the annotations, a workout manager determines a target workout parameter for each of a plurality of segments of the entertainment content. As the entertainment content is played, the target workout parameter for each respective segment, of the plurality of segments, is provided to an exercise machine. In response to receiving each target workout parameter, an operational aspect of the machine is controlled to adjust an intensity of a user workout for the duration of the respective segment, thereby synchronizing the intensity of the workout with the attributes of the entertainment content.