Method and system for determining whether steps have occurred
First Claim
1. A device for counting steps, comprising:
- a processor to;
collect acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor;
determine a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor;
determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed;
determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed;
establish a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency,the first frequency being an upper cutoff frequency of the filter, andthe second frequency being a lower cutoff frequency of the filter;
apply the filter to the magnitude signal;
determine based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal;
a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device,a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, anda maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device;
receive sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor;
determine, based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred;
determine, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device;
reset, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value;
turn off, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit;
receive sampled acceleration data;
determine magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data;
determine based on the magnitude acceleration information;
a first negative-to-positive acceleration change,a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, anda second negative-to-positive acceleration change;
compare a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold,the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change;
compare the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;
compare, based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold;
compare, based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold,the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change;
compare the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;
determine that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold;
turn on the GPS circuit based on determining that the step occurred; and
output a step signal indicating that the step has occurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filter processes acceleration magnitude signals from an accelerometer device to output spectral content related to walking and running. A device containing the accelerometer determines steps by qualitatively analyzing the processed acceleration signals to determine whether increased acceleration magnitude results from a step impact from running or walking activity. The device may analyze the acceleration signals to determine crossings of an axis at zero magnitude, which crossings typically correspond to a person'"'"'s foot impacting the ground, and may analyze the period between the zero crossings. The step count can indicate whether the device, in a height determination mode, is moving in a vehicle; if analysis of accelerometer signals indicates no stepping or running, but another circuit of the device indicates rapid movement, the device assumes it is moving in a vehicle, and resets a height above ground value to zero upon determining resumption of walking or running activity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for counting steps, comprising:
a processor to; collect acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor; determine a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor; determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed; determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed; establish a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency, the first frequency being an upper cutoff frequency of the filter, and the second frequency being a lower cutoff frequency of the filter; apply the filter to the magnitude signal; determine based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal; a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device, a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device; receive sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor; determine, based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred; determine, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device; reset, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value; turn off, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit; receive sampled acceleration data; determine magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data; determine based on the magnitude acceleration information; a first negative-to-positive acceleration change, a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and a second negative-to-positive acceleration change; compare a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold, the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change; compare the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; compare, based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold; compare, based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold, the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change; compare the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; determine that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold; turn on the GPS circuit based on determining that the step occurred; and output a step signal indicating that the step has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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collecting, by a device, acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor; determining, by the device, a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor; determining, by the device and based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed; determining, by the device and based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed; establishing, by the device, a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency, the first frequency being an upper cutoff of the filter, and the second frequency being a lower cutoff of the filter; applying, by the device, the filter to the magnitude signal; determining by the device and based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal; a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device, a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device; receiving, by the device, sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor; determining, by the device and based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred; determining, by the device, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit, and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device; resetting, by the device and based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value; turning off, by the device and based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit; receiving, by the device, a sampled acceleration data; determining, by the device, magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data; determining, by the device, based on the magnitude acceleration information; a first negative-to-positive acceleration change, a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and a second negative-to-positive acceleration change; comparing, by the device, a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold, the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change; comparing, by the device, the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; comparing, by the device and based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold; comparing, by the device and based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold, the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change; comparing, by the device, the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; determining, by the device, that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold; turning on, by the device and based on determining that the step occurred, the GPS circuit; and outputting, by the device, a step signal indicating that the step has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to; collect acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor; determine a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor; determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed; determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed; establish a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency, the first frequency being an upper cutoff frequency of the filter, and the second frequency being a lower cutoff frequency of the filter; apply the filter to the magnitude signal; determine based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal; a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device, a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device; receive sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor; determine, based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred; determine, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device; reset, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value; turn off, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit; receive sampled acceleration data; determine magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data; determine based on the magnitude acceleration information; a first negative-to-positive acceleration change, a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and a second negative-to-positive acceleration change; compare a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold, the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change; compare the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; compare, based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold; compare, based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold, the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change; compare the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold; determine that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold; turn on the GPS circuit based on determining that the step has occurred; and output a step signal indicating that the step has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification