Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fitness health and wellness social e-commerce platform that provides an e-commerce platform that operates as a social network in which the interaction between fitness enthusiasts is what drives revenue into the e-commerce components.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/801,087 filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0005]    As a general rule, to be part of a fitness or health related ecosystem, sports and/or fitness enthusiasts must all be physically present at some specific location in order to engage in fitness related activities. This represents an obstacle to people who wish to train from distant locations or work out with people in different locations. Another obstacle faced by fitness enthusiasts is the difficulty of finding a gym or a class that fits their individual needs when traveling away from home. Another problem faced by fitness enthusiasts is the need for an e-commerce platform where they can buy or sell fitness related content or goods as well as interact with each other on a personal and/or professional level. Furthermore, it would be desirable for physical communities to have an online presence in a single platform that would allow them to participate in forums and discussions, invite others to local competitions, classes and events, share content and attend online events. Furthermore, there is a need for a single e-commerce platform that allows fitness enthusiasts, merchants and vendors, gym owners, event administrators, and race directors to achieve all of this via the Internet. Finally, in order for a fitness related ecosystem to stay profitable, there is a need to develop a strategy for maintaining a constant flow of new members. With limited information technology budgets to maintain websites and social networking accounts, as well as very limited marketing, and sales budgets, this is most difficult. Thus, a common agnostic fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform that addresses all these problems is needed to overcome these obstacles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block illustration of an exemplary disclosed system for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary database which may be included in the disclosed system of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary flowchart of the front-end in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary flowchart of the back-end in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a block illustration of an exemplary fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform site map. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary overview of the e-commerce platform. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the distinct site within the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the virtual currency engine functionally coupled with the processor, memory and storage. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9A-E  show an exemplary e-commerce builder tool. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary user store front. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary checkout mechanism. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 12A-B  show exemplary communications generated when a transaction is completed. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 13A-G  show an exemplary community site of the fitness, health, and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 14A-K  show an exemplary community profile from the perspective of the administrator of the community profile of the fitness, health, and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 15A-D  illustrate a preferred embodiment for the Fit Journal feature of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    One of the objectives of the fitness, health and wellness social c-commerce platform is to provide a cloud-based solution where users can search for fitness, health and wellness related activities, communities (online and offline), gatherings, clubs, gyms, instructors, products, services, locate them, research them, rate them, purchase them, attend them, and even sign up for memberships, classes or events. The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform consolidates the extremely large, fragmented market of fitness, health and wellness into one portal. 
         [0023]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to build the largest database of gyms in the world, with profiles inclusive of pictures, videos, and class schedules of over 200,000 facilities, from which the fitness health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s members can use to build community. 
         [0024]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a solution that brings new members to gyms. The social network and e-commerce aspects of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform does this by turning every gym member, fitness enthusiast and health and wellness community member into a salesperson for his or her favorite fitness facilities, by way of interacting with other users, online and offline, and endorsing products, events and services on the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
         [0025]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social c-commerce platform is to provide an e-commerce platform that operates as a social network in which the interaction between fitness enthusiasts is what drives revenue into the e-commerce components. Sales and business development are primarily handled through the vast network of commissioned sales people in the network itself. Revenue is earned by the fitness, health and wellness platform in the form of transactional fees for every transaction completed on the platform. A portion of these revenues are shared back with the purchasers and referring parties (sales people) who had a link to the shoppable item in their feed or their store. This revenue share accumulates in the user&#39;s digital wallet on the platform that is then able to be used to purchase items themselves or redeem for cash. Revenue is also earned from merchants and service providers promoting products and services on the platform to various groups of users, traditional CPC, CPM and CPA advertising. 
         [0026]    An e-commerce component is a mechanism that allows users to buy or sell goods or services through the management tool. A post, calendar event or digital content, such as photos or videos, is “shoppable” if it is coupled with an e-commerce component. Collectively, these may be referred to as “shoppable items”. A “feed” is a collection of posts, calendar events or digital content shown in the order that they were published. A “shoppable feed” is a feed composed of shoppable items. E-commerce components do not require a merchant account, as everyone on the platform is considered a merchant. Any user of the platform and any seller of any shoppable items must agree to platform terms and services before selling and/or redeeming. 
         [0027]    Every user has a feed, a store, a gallery, a calendar and is part of communities where there may be items for sale. For example, User-A&#39;s feed may be an amalgamation of other users&#39; shoppable items. User-A simply adds such an item to their store or their feed or to their calendar by clicking “Add to” button associated with each store post or shoppable feed item throughout the platform. Adding something to one&#39;s personal profile or group profile from another user&#39;s feed, store, calendar or gallery makes them the referring party (“referrer”) of that item. If another user/follower finds that item in the referrer&#39;s profile, and purchases that item (thus, becoming a “consumer”) the referrer will receive a credit in the form of a commission credited to their digital wallet, once the transaction clears. 
         [0028]    E-commerce components are integrated throughout the site and revenues are shared with the users in the form of actual currency credited to the user account (“digital wallet”). Each user account has an associated user digital wallet where transactions made in the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform will be reflected. The balance contained in a user&#39;s digital wallet is referred to as “virtual currency”. Users may use this virtual currency for transactions made in the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. A user earns or spends virtual currency balance according to whether he or she is a consumer, a referrer or a creator (i.e., originator of the item(s) for sale). Collectively, these are referred to as the categories of users. For each transaction the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform will calculate the amount of virtual currency earned by the creator and the referrer, and if the consumer used virtual currency as the method of payment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform will deduct that amount from the user&#39;s virtual currency balance. 
         [0029]    The platform will offer a separate fitness rewards program for those wishing to receive additional discounts or referral credits on items or services for sale on the platform. These rewards can be used at checkout, converted into actual currency, or be used on a barter basis with other members to exchange products and services from each other&#39;s stores. Fitness rewards will be accumulated through interactions, goals and achievements, posted by other members, merchants or service providers. An example is “ABC Workout Month Competition” or “XYZ Gym Referral Madness March” where participants would earn reward points and virtual currency for participating and accomplishing certain objectives. These points can be converted to cash or exchanged for items on the platform. 
         [0030]    Users can set up profiles with shoppable items as well as store fronts to sell merchandise. User profiles may also include classified advertisements where they can sell soft asset shoppable items, such as memberships, classes, services, on-line classes, and create and sell events. Referrers, for example, earn money for referring a person to a gym, class, event, or product. The virtual currency they earn may then be used as cash equivalent for additional purchases on the site. For example, at checkout the user&#39;s virtual currency value is calculated and the user can apply part or all of it to their purchase. The amount is then deducted and remaining balance of virtual currency is recalculated. 
         [0031]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform does not charge the user for the creation of e-commerce components. Rather, the tool&#39;s model is to provide a social commerce platform that users can use at their discretion, and the management tool takes a fee from the originator of the transaction whether it&#39;s an event manager or a gym owner, service provider or merchant. Therefore, the customer pays a flat fee with no add-ons, and the event planner or merchant pays a per-transaction fee for using the platform. Fees may vary depending on the event, membership program, class, or product. 
         [0032]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform shop allows vendors to sell their merchandise on store fronts. Stores may be divided into hard assets stores and soft assets stores. Hard assets stores sell merchandise such as food, apparel, products, and gear. Soft assets stores sell memberships, classes, events, digital content, and on-line content. All assets may be marketed and sold directly from the profiles. Vendors go through screening committee selection process and are monitored for quality control. 
         [0033]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a social networking site in which revenue is shared between the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform and the users. In one embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is an opt-out social network, meaning that the users are already admitted into the community of health and fitness enthusiasts, and therefore, have to opt-out rather than opt-in. Being invited into a gym&#39;s community immediately connects the user with thousands of members of that online and physical community. The opt-out model is expected to grow into a substantial network that can be monetized in a number of ways through advertisers and product placement. In another embodiment, profits are shared based on a ranking system. 
         [0034]    Users receive revenue in a number of ways. In one embodiment, users can set up profiles with an e-commerce component as well as store fronts to sell merchandise. User profiles may also include classified advertisements where they can sell memberships, classes, services, on-line classes, and create and sell events. Users can also generate revenue in other ways such as expanding their networks to include potential customers. In addition, users can upload fitness videos or instructional videos and charge for those through the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s fitness store. Users can also generate revenue in other ways, such as by referring people to other profiles and pages, suggesting they purchase those items, memberships or classes. Users can also generate revenue by receiving a share of the advertising revenues collected by the platform for advertisements served up on their profiles or their communities (groups). For all these actions, members get virtual currency that can be cashed in or used as currency on the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. 
         [0035]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a social networking experience. In another embodiment, the fitness health and wellness social e-commerce platform provides members with a social network experience where they can, without limitation, have a user profile, read feeds, post content, share content, create groups, create events, watch photos or videos, read blogs, send messages, register for events, “like” other posts, mass invite, add location to a post, include location tags on posts and buy or sell fitness related items directly from a post or feed. Furthermore, the management tool provides integration with other existing social media platforms. 
         [0036]    Users have to register and log-in in order to access the functionalities of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. Registered, logged-in users are able to access all of the features of the website including signing up for memberships, classes, and events; see digital content; read blogs; comment; learn and contribute to the learning; among other things. In one embodiment, users that are not logged-in are able to access limited sections of the website. For example, they may be able to search gyms, look at public profiles, and access other limited sections of the website. When a user that has not logged-in reaches a section of the website that requires valid credentials, the website gives the user the option to login or register. 
         [0037]    When a user logs-in, he or she lands on a dashboard that includes My Fitness, Fitness Community, and direct links to popular groups like Crossfit, Yoga, Triathlon, Football, and Extreme Sports. Once inside My Fitness, the user has the option to post, interact, make connections, find events, get advice, see who is going to which event, accept invites, and other similar functions. It should be noted that posts may be automatically posted in other social networks with the consent of the user. For example, if a user creates a post on FITMOO™, that post may automatically appear in other social networks, such as FACEBOOK®, TWITTER®, etc. It is an important aspect of this invention that posts, including those shared with other social networks, may have an e-commerce component (i.e., shoppable posts) and links back to the shoppable item(s) on the platform. 
         [0038]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform provides a profile editor where the user is able to manage his or her profile, see what it looks like to the outside world, look at user statistics, and manage notification settings. Users can do mass invites to invite people from other social networks and their own customer relationship management databases (CRM&#39;s) via email, and manage their shoppables from an e-commerce builder tool. 
         [0039]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform also provides a search tool that categorizes search results on topics, words, profiles, groups, events or items. The search tool may be powered by any commercially available search engine. 
         [0040]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a calendar that includes a user&#39;s events, as well as all the events the user selects from the calendars of other users. In one embodiment, the calendar shows all user events, all the events the user has brought from another user&#39;s calendar, and every event from calendars and profiles a user has favorited. The calendar may be tightly integrated into other fitness related websites and therefore, events from other websites may show there as well. Furthermore, the tool includes an editing functionality that allows the user to edit his or her preferences with respect to the integrated fitness related websites in order to specify the type of events the user is interested in attending and/or the geographic area where the user is most interested in attending. The user may also filter events on his or her calendar such that he or she sees only those events that match the filter. These may include filtering the calendar items by its type, time range, geographical location, followers, and others. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, events can be searched and detailed events can be created using the event registration tool as well as the user&#39;s post box. These created events may include an invite tool allowing users to invite other users, communities or groups of people to that event. Invited users do not have to be registered on the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform to be invited to an event created on the platform. In another embodiment, events may be created in one of two ways. First, the user can create an event and post it to an update. In addition, events may be created in the calendar where a more detailed description of the event is included with specific information relating to the event such as location, number of spaces available, photo uploads, and whether invitees can invite other users. An important aspect of the invention is that calendar events can be made shoppable. The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform will handle the transaction for the user and will pay the creator of the shoppable event after taking a small fee. The fee the management tool collects will be shared with the creator of the event, the purchaser in the form of a rebate, and the referrer, if any. 
         [0042]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform has the ability to consolidate all those calendars that a user is following. Users can dynamically filter the social calendar by person, group, location, time and entry-type. Users can sign up for events from the social calendar, and can synch multiple consolidated fitness calendars with mobile calendar. Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to allow users to create groups. The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s “groups” or “communities” is another powerful functionality. Groups have threads and posts, their own calendars and stores, and the ability to manage the group through a robust administration tool, including the ability promote administrators, ban members and interact with the group in several ways. 
         [0043]    Another significant aspect of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is that users can create communities around common interests and activities, and invite members of the social e-commerce platform to join their community. Owners of communities can create event schedules, storefronts and communal feeds, so members can socialize, purchase and interact. Owners can add shoppable items to the communities, such as products, services, events and memberships. All communities are searchable on the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform, unless privacy settings specify otherwise. Events or classes that are posted to the community&#39;s calendar are inherently social, in that each event is accompanied by its own communal feed, and any activity around that event or class, such as signing up, is published to other members of the group. 
         [0044]    Another significant aspect of the interactions between fitness enthusiasts is the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s photos and videos. Users are encouraged to post photos and videos of workouts, finish lines, events, contests, competitions, and even weight loss successes (before and after). The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform allows users to upload unlimited photos and post unlimited links to videos hosted by other video hosting sites. Any user may create albums, add pictures from other profiles to their own albums, and also repost these pictures and videos to their own threads, sharing them with their own network and groups. Photos or videos of events or products can be shoppable, allowing another user to click on the photo or video post and be directed directly to a product or service in a user&#39;s store, which can then be purchased. 
         [0045]    Another important aspect of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is that fitness videos may be shoppable. Shoppable videos are uploaded to a fitness-class video store where users are able to buy, rent, or subscribe to fitness-related videos. The fitness-class rental store offers access to uploaded videos using four distinct methods. Videos may be “Purchased” providing the user a link to download and store the video permanently. “On-demand” videos may also be rented and viewed at any time. In addition, the tool may offer a subscription model for unlimited “On-demand” class rentals and subscriptions to a particular instructors&#39; content. The subscription model allows a user to view as many of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s streams as he or she wishes, as many times per day. Within the monthly subscription model, royalties will be shared with content providers based on the total number views of their content as a percentage of the total number of views across the platform. Special events may also be offered “Live” at fixed times. 
         [0046]    The fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform also provides “Streamed” access through a TV application and YOUTUBE® where videos are constantly streaming between 10-20 videos every 15 minutes. The entire schedule of streamed events is available on through the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform calendar. “Streamed” content from the fitness program tool TV and YOUTUBE® can be paused for up to one hour. Revenues of the “On-demand,” “Live,” “Streamed,” and “Purchased” videos are shared with the owner of the videos. 
         [0047]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a workout tracker where users can post workouts that can be shared with other users or with non-registered users via a hyperlink. 
         [0048]    Another objective of the health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a feature known as “Fit Journal” which allows a user to develop his or her “fitness resume” by recording their fitness and wellness journey. If a user enables the Fit Journal feature on their profile, the feature records every class and event they have attended, every workout they have done, every competition they have attended, every meal they have consumed, and every goal they have achieved. Pictures, videos, texts and chats are all recorded, chronologically to produce a fitness journey that can be reviewed, printed, and shared with friends, family, followers, coaches and instructors. 
         [0049]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a “Professional” section where registered users can subscribe to and gain access to an exclusive club of professional athletes from selected sports. Registered users pay a nominal fee to access the “Pro Site”. The fitness program shares this income from the “Pro Site” with the pro athletes. Pro athletes need to be admitted by a screening committee. Collegiate athletes may also be admitted into the professional section. 
         [0050]    Besides memberships, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform offers a dedicated Community and Resources portal where users can post, share, and create “groups” or “communities”. In one embodiment users and fitness professionals are able to engage in “eCoaching”. eCoaching refers to distance coaching by creating a private group or community on the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform between a coach or instructor and one or more individuals. Workouts and nutritional entries are contained in the group calendar and group feed. Members of the private group are able to: get feedback from each member of the private group on how they are progressing; update workouts and nutrition; set fitness goals; sell products and services from the community store; encourage, interact, share and sell products to members; and allow members of the group to sell items from the community store by putting those items in their store. 
         [0051]    The site also offers the option to users to enable an existing profile to be part of a dating database where the user can meet friends in their geographical area. The users may also search through profiles that have dating enabled to find a match based on other traits as well. Similarly, a user may enable his or her profile to be part of a jobs database. The jobs database is searchable by employers looking for trainers, sales people, experts, and users with other qualifications. 
         [0052]    Another objective of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform is to provide a platform in which the owners of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform share statistics, behavioral data and consumer analytics with the user to help the user create larger networks and increase their earning potential. 
         [0053]    In another embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform sends email triggers to market itself to users, merchants and service providers in the fitness health and wellness market. Such email triggers include but are not limited to a sign-up, purchase or registration by a user to a competitive merchant, service provider or gym in the same geographic area or an email to all merchants, service providers or gyms if a certain topic has been searched by a user on the platform. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]      FIG. 1  illustrates a fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100 . System  100  may include an input module  120 , an output module  140 , and a computing platform  160 . Computing platform  160  may include or may be otherwise operatively coupled to a database  180 , which may be stored in a memory  200 . Database  180  may include more than one database or another type of electronic repository. Computing platform  160  may include the software functionality and hardware capabilities to implement fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform features through input module  120  and access, read, and write to database  180 . 
         [0055]    The results of data received from a user may be provided as output from computing platform  160  to output module  140  for printed display, viewing, and/or further communication to other system devices. Such output may include, for example, printout of a screenshot corresponding to an individual fitness account, to a selection of a group account or to any type of report involving a user(s) fitness program. 
         [0056]    In accordance to one embodiment of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform, an e-commerce builder tool  600  is provided where the user can create and post shoppable items to their profiles, groups, community and resources, and to other social networks  620 . The e-commerce builder tool  600  allows a user to sell hard assets  610 , as well as soft assets  611 ,  612 . The user can also offer or list items for sale on a store front which will be part of the platform An e-commerce component is a mechanism that allows users to buy or sell goods or services through the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform  600 . A post, calendar event, or digital content, such as photos or videos, is deemed shoppable if it is coupled with an e-commerce component. A feed is a collection of posts, calendar events or digital content shown in the order that they were published. A shoppable feed is a feed composed of shoppables. 
         [0057]    In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the output module  140  may render files using a display. That is, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, a computing platform  160  may be configured to display fitness program management tool functionalities upon selecting or activating the output module  140 , which may include a monitor, screen, projector or similar panel depicting the desired content. 
         [0058]    It is also contemplated, however, that the output module  140  may further provide technical data such as performance estimates and reports pertaining to individual or group performance regarding the fitness program. Data provided by output module  140  may additionally or alternatively include metadata for the content, which a user may desire to obtain from the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform for his or her reference. Such metadata may include information about a user, gym, instructor; demographic data; commerce analytics; consumer analytics; behavioral data; or even technical data, such as a user&#39;s name or nickname, email account, platform identifier, and/or operating system (e.g., Android, iOS, etc.) used by the computing platform  160 . Additionally or alternatively, the metadata may relate to the file itself, such as to include information on the date and time the file was created, accessed, modified, or edited and location specific information. Output from computing platform  160  can also be provided to database  180 , which may be utilized as storage device for files and fitness-related data pertaining to a user. This form of output may be stored in a folder corresponding to the user&#39;s account or under a predetermined directory folder. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , computing platform  160  may include a cloud computing provider, a standalone web-server, a personal computer (PC), a mainframe computer, or a laptop computer configured to perform various functions and operations. That is, computing platform  160  may include software functionality and hardware capabilities to implement fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform features according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Computing platform  160  may be implemented, for example, by a general purpose apparatus selectively activated or configured by software stored in memory of the apparatus, or may be a specially constructed computing platform for carrying out the features and operations of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform  100 . It is contemplated, that the computing platform  160  may be accessible via a web browser from any device without the need to download and install an application on every device in which the user desires to experience the fitness program management features in the manner enabled by the present disclosure. That is, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform features of the present disclosure reside in the cloud and thus are executable over a web browser or may reside locally, such as in a smart phone application downloaded from an application market or preloaded by the smart phone&#39;s manufacturer. However, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform may be accessible through a computing platform  160  having locally executed software to perform the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform features of the present disclosure. 
         [0060]    In order to perform these tasks, computing platform  160  may also be implemented or provided with a wide variety of components or subsystems including, for example, one or more of the following: a processor  162 , a co-processor  164 , a register  166 , and/or other data processing devices and subsystems. Computing platform  160  may also communicate or transfer user files and fitness-related data as well as feedback provided by the user or third parties via input module  120  and/or output module  140  through the use of wired connections, wireless connections or other means of communication, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]    In an exemplary embodiment, a security layer such as firewall may prevent access to the computer platform  160  by unauthorized external entities. It is further contemplated that computing platform  160  may use techniques such as data encryption and/or require user authentication, such as password verification, biometrics, pattern recognition, speech recognition or similar means, in order to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to sensitive information, files, and fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform preferences associated with a particular individual. 
         [0062]    It is further contemplated that communication between computing platform  160  and input and output modules  120 ,  140  can be achieved through the use of a network architecture (not shown). In such an embodiment, the network architecture may include, alone or in any suitable combination, a telephone-based network (such as a PBX or POTS), a local area network (LAN/WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a VPN, a dedicated intranet, and/or the Internet. Further, the network architecture may include any suitable combination of wired and/or wireless components and systems necessary in order to carry out the present disclosure. By using dedicated communication links or a shared network architecture, computing platform  160  may be located in the same location or at a location geographically remote from input and/or output modules  120 ,  140 . 
         [0063]    Input module  120  may include a wide variety of devices to receive and/or provide the data as input to computing platform  160 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , input module  120  may include an input device  122 , a storage device  124 , and/or a network interface  126 . Input device  122  may include a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, stylus, touchpad, disk drive, video camera, magnetic card reader, or any other suitable input device for communicating data to computing platform  160 . 
         [0064]    Memory  200  may be implemented with various forms of memory or storage devices, such as read-only memory (ROM) devices and random access memory (RAM) devices. Storage device  124  may include a memory tape, disk drive, a flash memory card, an SD card or a microSD card for reading and providing data (including video files) as input to computing platform  160 . Network interface  126  may receive data over a network (such as a LAN, a WAN, a mobile network, such as EDVO, 3G, 4G, GSM, an intranet or the Internet) and provide the same data as input to computing platform  160 . For example, network interface  126  may be selectively connected or connectable to a public or private database for purposes of receiving information about one or more users, user files, video clips and other fitness-related data from computing platform  160 . 
         [0065]    Output module  140  may include a display  142 , a printer device  144 , and/or a network interface  146  for receiving the information provided as output from computing platform  160 . As indicated above, the output module  140  from computing platform  160  may include a display showing fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform s in the manner described herein. The output from computing platform  160  may be displayed or viewed through display  142  (such as a CRT, LCD, CSTN, TFT, TFD, OLED, capacitive, resistive, AMOLED, super AMOLED, haptic/tactile, Gorilla glass or Retina type) and printer device  144 . Network interface  146  may also facilitate the communication of the output from computing platform  160  over a network (such as a LAN, a WAN, a mobile network, such as BDYO, 3G, 4G, GSM, LTE an intranet or the Internet) to remote locations for debugging, reviewing or providing backup. 
         [0066]    User files and fitness-related information associated to gyms, individual users or group of users may be stored in memory  200  of database  180 .  FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of database  180 , which may include information about one or more users, user files, and fitness-related data. Database  180  may also include data relevant to gyms, the target population of users, content generators (i.e., trainers and gyms), content uploaders as a whole and/or to select segments of the target population. Database  180  may further include demographic data, gym attendance, browsing history, shopping habits, web searches, most visited web sites, and other fitness-related behavioral information in order to create and/or edit the directory structure stored therein. Additionally or alternatively, the database  180  may include a file structure which is built and updated based on the information and/or files shared by a particular user or group in a given social media application. Lastly, it is contemplated that an individual file entity  212  may be created and maintained according to each specific user, including both individuals as well as businesses (such as gyms or health stores). 
         [0067]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment for the database  180 . Nonetheless, it is contemplated, that the file structure of database  180  may be dynamically created, organized, and/or maintained based on either information pertaining to the user (or group of users) or to the user files (or group of files). Database  180  may include additional information regarding a user&#39;s Posts  202 , Calendar  204 , Blogs  206 , Groups  208 , Connections  210 , Favorites  212 , Workout Tracker  214 , and/or My Fitness Store  216 . Nonetheless, it is contemplated that said such user information may be shown, edited or deleted, depending the user&#39;s selections, feedback detected, and/or marketing strategies implemented by the system  100 . 
         [0068]    Database  180  may further include information pertaining the User&#39;s Fitness Community. Such information may include a User&#39;s Profile, Gym Searches, Online Classes, and Class Searches, and User access information, 
         [0069]      FIG. 5  is directed to the exemplary flowchart of the front-end for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100 . An input module  120  interacts with the fitness, health and wellness social c-commerce platform system  100  by visiting the system&#39;s web site comprising a web address. The web address might be located by actually searching  301  for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100 . Once the user accesses the web browser general information is displayed or provided. For example, a user is capable to get information about the system  100 , benefits, testimonials and other information that encourages user to use the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100 . Once at the initial web page the user may register or log-in. If the user selects to register, the system  100  requests user&#39;s information in order to complete or create a user&#39;s profile. For example, the user is requested to selects if he/she is an individual or a service provider  302 . If the user selects to be an individual  303  the information requested by the system comprises information regarding social networks, more particularly social network applications belonging to the user, in such way that the user&#39;s social network is link to the user&#39;s profile. Further, information such as specific topics, categories and the option to join groups inside the system  100  may be requested. If the user selects to be a Service Provider  304  the information requested by the system  100  comprises the type of services provided by the user, tags and more. After the User&#39;s profile is completed the user may log into the system  100  and use all the features provided by the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100  such as the calendar, profile, searching for groups of particular interest, group listening, discover, see posts, comment on posts, like posts and others  305 . 
         [0070]    In accordance with one exemplary frontend flowchart, if a user selects to perform a search the system provide several search results  306 . A filter or algorithm may be employed to complete a more relevant search. After the search the user might want to access each result in details  307 - 313 . The detailed page may include information regarding links for events, Gym, Workout, group, class, person, nutrition and more. 
         [0071]    In accordance with one exemplary front-end flowchart, if a user selects the profile feature several options are provided. Some of the profile feature options may comprise: an access/link configured to view and edit user&#39;s profile  308 ; an access/link configured to upload, view and manage images and videos  309 ; an access/link configured to create, visit, follow, unfollow groups  310 ; an access/link configured to visit a virtual store to shop memberships, classes, events, apps, products and services that other users are selling  313 ; an access/link configured to a calendar for adding, creating or deleting events, workouts and classes. Further, browse others users calendars  311 ; and an access/link configured to view events, classes, nutritional entries, workouts, products, friends, pictures that the user added to his profile  312 . 
         [0072]    In accordance with one exemplary frontend flowchart, if a user selects the calendar  314  he/she is able to create, delete, add, browse and view details of events, workouts or classes. In accordance with one exemplary frontend flowchart, if a user selects the group listing  315  he/she is able to view all the groups the user is part of or created. User may see public groups  316  and private groups  317 . Also he/she is able to search among groups, follow or unfollow groups. The user can further create a new group using a user interface type that presents a sequence of instructions that lead the user to create said group. In accordance with one exemplary frontend flowchart, if a user selects or click on a post for details he/she may see text, photos, events nutrition, workouts and class related to said post. 
         [0073]    In accordance with one exemplary frontend flowchart, if a user selects to discover  319  he/she is able to search for the location of a class, event, group, gym, trainer and workout. The results could be over-layed on a virtual map at the input module  120 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 6  is directed to the exemplary block diagram showing general overview of the e-commerce platform for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform system  100 . First the user search for a product or shoppable feed, wherein said product or shoppable feed is stored at the system database  401 . Once the product is selected by the user several details related to said product are provided  404  to user. The detail may include price, warranties, material, service, reviews from other users and more. Further user select to buy said product  405  presents a sequence of instructions that lead the user to complete the procedure. At least one of the instructions completes a checkout form or process which is forwarded to the e-commerce platform  408 . The e-commerce platform  408 , which is describe in more detail below, is further configured to manage and process the payment  410 , provide confirmation email to user  403 , send email to store owner  402 , shipping  407  and store information. 
         [0075]    In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform&#39;s members will be able to interact with other members in a social network environment. Here members will be able to, among other things, see digital content, read blogs, publish content and comment on existing content. Furthermore, members will be able to enable their profiles to be part of a dating database and/or a fitness job profile database. 
         [0076]    In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform will have an interface in which members will have the option to post, interact, make connection, make goals, find groups, share calendars, track their workouts, track other workouts, find events, get advice, see who is going to an event, accept invites, among other activities. 
         [0077]      FIG. 3  illustrates a preferred embodiment for the user profiles of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, a user profile contains a feed that is made up of posts from favorite users and users that are connected to the owner of the profile. Containers  1020 ,  1021 ,  1022 ,  1023  and  1024  are containers within the profile webpage. Said containers  1020 ,  1021 ,  1022 ,  1023  and  1024  may include content from posts, blog entries, pictures, videos, shoppable items, and other kinds of user-generated content. The content of the containers is referred to in  FIG. 3  as  1000 ,  1001 ,  1002 ,  1003  and  1004 . Said content may include pictures and/or videos  1030 ,  1031 ,  1032 ,  1033 , and  1034  related to the content. Generally, the user profile shows all of the most recent user-generated content from the network of the owner of the profile. However, a filter mechanism  104  may allow a user to filter and show only the content that matches the user-provided criteria. For example, the user may choose to show only videos or photos. The user may also choose to show content generated only by particular users or groups. Said filter mechanism  104  allows the user to show all of the available content by clicking on a “Clear all filters” link. 
         [0078]      FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred embodiment for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, a user is able to view all the shoppable items  1024 ,  1025 ,  1026  and  1027  associated with his or her profile in the merchandise section of the dashboard. Inside this dashboard the user may view and edit the details of the shoppable item, performance analytics, and promote said item. The dashboard also shows other aspects of the user profiles such as a summary, purchases, sales, balance and information about the profile itself (not shown in the figure). 
         [0079]      FIG. 7  illustrates a preferred embodiment for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform  500  comprises various distinct sites with different functionalities where each of those sites is enabled for a user when he or she requests access to said sites by enabling his or her profile and adding detailed information necessary for those sites. Examples include a jobs site  501 , a dating site  502 , a community and resources site  503 , and a professional site  504 . All of those sites are enabled to integrate with each other such that the transition from one to the other is seamless from the point of view of the user. However, each of those sites may include their own computing platform  160  and database  180  in order to service user&#39;s requests. 
         [0080]      FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  9 C,  9 D,  9 E illustrate a preferred embodiment for the e-commerce builder tool  600 . In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform comprises an e-commerce builder tool  600  used to create shoppable items. The e-commerce builder tool  600  includes three panes  601 ,  602 ,  603  where the user will specify the category of asset  610 ,  611 ,  612  he or she is selling, as well as detailed information about said asset. In this particular embodiment the categories of assets are products  610 , services  611 , and memberships  612 . Products  610  are generally hard assets while services  611  and memberships  612  are generally soft assets. Once the user has selected the type of asset  611 ,  612 ,  613  he or she is selling, the user may click on the “Continue” button  630 . 
         [0081]    In the example of  FIG. 9B , the user chose the products  610  as the category of asset he or she would like to sell. Afterwards, the user clicked on the “Continue” button  630 . This causes the second pane  602  to appear where the user will select the type of product  610 . Types of products  610  include clothing  6100 , shoes  6101 , gear  6102 , equipment  6103 , and other  6104 . Again the user chooses one type of asset and clicks on the “Continue” button  630 . This causes the third pane  603 , shown on  FIG. 9C , to appear where the user may enter detailed information about the asset including its title  6031 , details  6032 , gender  6033 , selling price  6034 , brand  6035 , size and quantity  6036 , and images  6037  and original Manufacturer SKU. The user may also choose the cover image  6038  that will show on the shoppable feed. 
         [0082]    In the example of  FIG. 9D , the user chose the service  611  as the category of asset he or she would like to sell. After choosing the category of asset, the user clicked on the “Continue” button  630 . This causes the second pane  602  to appear where the user will select the type of service  611 . Types of services  611  include personal training  6110 , beauty and spa  6111 , nutrition and diet  6112 , health and recreation  6113 , and physical therapy chiropractic  6114 . Again the user chooses one type of asset and clicks on the “Continue” button  630 . This causes the third pane  603 , shown on  FIG. 9E , to appear where the user may enter detailed information about the asset including its title  6031 , details  6032 , selling price  6034 , when the service will expire  6040 , the number of sessions  6041 , and the location  6042 . 
         [0083]    The user may click on the Post button  632  at any moment which causes the shoppable item to be stored in the shoppable item data store  712 . This means that the user controls how detailed he or she wants the shoppable item to be. The user may also cancel the shoppable item at any time before posting by clicking on the “Cancel” button  631  or mark it out-of-stock or discontinued if inventory applies to such an item. The e-commerce builder tool  600  is tightly integrated with social networks such that the user may also share the shoppable item via other social networks by clicking on the share buttons  620 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 8  illustrates a preferred embodiment for the e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform comprises an e-commerce platform including a processor  700 , a virtual currency engine  702 , a storage  703 , a memory  704 , and a network  705 . The storage  703  contains a plurality of data stores associated with different aspects of the invention. For example, a user profile data store  710  contains information about a plurality of users, a virtual currency data store  711  contains a balance of virtual currency for each of the plurality of users, a shoppable item data store  712  contains information about shoppable items, and a transaction data store  713  contains a plurality of transactions, wherein each transaction contains information about a shoppable item  7010 , a plurality of categories of users  7011 ,  7012 ,  7013  associated with the shoppable item and a method of payment  7014 . The categories of users include the creator of the shoppable item  7011 , the referrers of the shoppable item  7012 , if any, and the consumer of the shoppable item  7013 . 
         [0085]    When a user buys or rents a shoppable item, the system generates a transaction  701 . A virtual currency engine  702  responds to each transaction  701  and recalculates for each user in the transaction  701  the balance of virtual currency in the virtual currency data store  711  according to the plurality of categories of users and the method of payment. 
         [0086]    Once a consumer of the shoppable item buys or rents the shoppable item, a transaction  701  is generated by the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform and the virtual currency engine  702  responds to said transaction  701 . The generated transaction  701  contains information about the shoppable item such as the creator  7011 , the referrers  7012 , if any, the consumer  7013 , and the method of payment  7014 . The virtual currency engine  702  uses this information to adjust the balance for each of the categories of users, namely, the creator, the consumer, and the referrers, if any. For example, the creator  7011  and the referrer  7012 , if any, receive the revenue generated from the sale or rental of the shoppable item. That is to say that a determined amount of virtual currency will be added to the balance of virtual currency for the creator  7011  and the referrer  7012 , if any. On the other hand, if the consumer  7013  used virtual currency as the method of payment  7014 , the virtual currency engine  702  verifies that the amount of virtual currency is indeed available and, if it is, deducts said amount from the balance of virtual currency of the consumer  7013  of the shoppable item. After the virtual currency engine  702  has determined the new balance for the plurality of categories of users  7011 ,  7012 ,  7013 , the virtual currency engine  702  stores said new balance in the virtual currency data store  711 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 10  illustrates a preferred embodiment for the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform comprises a store front associated to a user&#39;s profile that shows all of the shoppable items in said user&#39;s profile. Shoppable items  903  are shown within a container wherein said container shows a description of the shoppable item, such as a name or short description of the product, an “ADD TO CART” or “BUY” button and optionally an overlay detail window (not shown in figure), a picture of the shoppable item  904  with an embedded hyperlink to go to the detail page for this product, and the price (with any applicable discount information) of the shoppable item  905 . Users are able to sort shoppable items using the “sort by” button  902 . Users may also filter the shoppable items using the provided filter mechanism  901 .  FIG. 11  illustrates a preferred embodiment where the user has selected to buy a shoppable item. Information  1001  about the shoppable item, is shown at the top of the screen including the price  1002  of the shoppable item. A summary  1004  of the shoppable item is also shown at the right of screen. The consumer of the shoppable item has to input his or her shipping address  1003 , and method of payment  1005 . The user may also pay using an external merchant/payment processor such as PAYPAL®. 
         [0088]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate a preferred embodiment where the consumer of the shoppable item has completed all necessary steps to buy the shoppable item. In the example of  FIG. 12A , the creator of the shoppable item receives an email communication  1101  from the system with the shipping information of the consumer of the shoppable item. At this point the amount owed to the creator of the shoppable item has already been deposited in his virtual currency account. Similarly, the consumer of the shoppable item receives a confirmation email  1102  with information about the payment and the shoppable item. At this point, the consumer has already paid for the shoppable item. 
         [0089]      FIGS. 13A-13G  illustrate a preferred embodiment for the community site. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform includes a community site where users can view, join or create a community.  FIG. 13A  illustrates the front page of the community site. In this preferred embodiment a user can browse existing communities. Recommended communities  801 - 812  are shown based on the user&#39;s interests. A user may also create a community by clicking on the “Start a Community” button  1801 . This causes the community builder tool to appear as shown in  FIG. 13B . The community builder tool  1800  includes three panes  1802 ,  1803 ,  1804  where the user will specify the location of the community  1802 , the fitness or health related activity the community is interested in  1803 , and a name and description for the community  1804 . As shown in  FIG. 13B , when the community builder tool  1800  opens, the first pane  1802  is shown where the user enters the location of the community. Once the user has entered the location of the community, the user may click on the “Continue” button  1814 . As shown in  FIG. 13C , this causes the second pane  1802  to appear where the user will enter the interests of the community in the form of keywords. Once the user has entered the interests of the community, the user may click on the “Continue” button  1814 . As shown in  FIG. 13D , this causes the third pane  1804  to appear where the user will enter the name and description of the community. The user may also select a cover image  850  that will show on the community profile  1820 . Finally, the user clicks on the “Create Community” button  1815 . 
         [0090]    In the example of  FIG. 13E , an example of a community is shown where the user is not a member of said community. The user may become a member of the community by clicking on the “Become a Member” button. In this preferred embodiment, a limited profile is available for users that are not member of the community. All community profiles include: “Events,” where user activities are shown in chronological order; a “Feed,” where user posts to the community profile are shown; a “Store,” where user may post their shoppable items and or refer other user to shoppable items in the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform; a “Gallery” of photos and videos, where users may posts photos and videos related to the community; and an “About” page showing basic information about the community and allowing users to share the community in other social networking sites. The profile also shows a list of all members of the community. In the example of  FIG. 13F , the user is a member of the community. In that case a “Settings” button allows the user to perform basic functions regarding his or her membership, such as inviting other users to the community, leaving the community or turning off notifications.  FIG. 13G  shows an exemplary embodiment of the community calendar. 
         [0091]      FIGS. 14A-14K  illustrate a preferred embodiment for the community profile from the perspective of the administrator of the community profile. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the administrator of the community profile is able to access options that a normal user cannot access. In the example of  FIG. 14B , the administrator of the community profile may invite other users to the community, create events edit the community profile information, edit privacy settings, manage members and leave the community. This is shown in overlay window  1901 . The administrator of the community profile is able to create posts, events, and shoppable items and share them with the community as shown in  FIG. 14C . The administrator of the community profile is also able to edit and delete events as shown in  FIG. 14E . When the administrator clicks on the gear button associated to an event, an overlay window  1903  shows where the administrator is able to choose the action he or she wants to perform. The administrator of the community profile is also able to delete user posts and/or remove users from the community as shown in  FIG. 14G . In similar fashion to events, the administrator clicks on the arrow button associated with the post he wants to administer, causing an overlay window  1904  to show where the administrator is able to choose the action he or she wants to perform.  FIG. 14H  shows the event creation tool for the community profile. The administrator of the community profile may edit the community profile information shown in the “About” page as shown in  FIG. 14I . Current community profile information is automatically populated in the text boxes provided for editing in pane  1906  where the administrator is able to edit and click on the “Save Changes” button when the information has been entered.  FIG. 14K  shows a preferred embodiment where the administrator of the community profile is shown an overlay window  1908  where the administrator may manage the members by adding or removing members from the community or assigning administrator privileges to existing users. 
         [0092]    An important aspect of the present invention is that community profiles may be public or private and may be hidden from the search engine. This aspect is shown in  FIG. 14J . An overlay window  1907  allows an administrator to choose whether the profile is public or private and whether it can be included in future search results. The Private communities allow fitness professionals and users to engage in eCoaching. Members of the private community are able to: get feedback from each member of the private group on how they are progressing; update workouts and nutrition; set fitness goals; sell products and services from the community store; encourage, interact, share and sell products to members; and allow members of the group to sell items from the community store by putting those items in their store. 
         [0093]      FIGS. 15A-D  illustrate a preferred embodiment for the Fit Journal feature of the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform. In accordance to this preferred embodiment, the fitness, health and wellness social e-commerce platform includes a feature that a user may enable on his or her profile to develop his or her “fitness resume” by recording his or her fitness and wellness journey.  FIG. 15A  illustrates the Fit Journal feature. In this preferred embodiment a user can share events  1501 , such as workouts, nutrition, events attended, classes attended, or any other event the user may wish to share with other users. As shown in Fig. A, Events entered by the user, and recorded by the feature, are arranged and displayed in chronological order, thus showing the user&#39;s fitness journey from first entered event to latest entered event. It should be noted that each entered event is associated with a photo  900 - 913 . Furthermore, recorded events may include photos  907 - 910 , videos, and/or text  1505  as shown in Fig. B. The Fit Journal feature includes a tab  1502  that allows users to either view all events simultaneously or each event individually, as shown in  FIGS. 15C and 15D . Furthermore, the Fit Journal feature includes a tab  1503  with the journals of other users that a particular user may be following. The Fit Journal feature also includes a search tool  1504  to look for the journals of other users. 
         [0094]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and system of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the method and system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the method and system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the forthcoming claims.