Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating the same

• US 10,134,256 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Park, James, Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, Friedman, Eric Nathan, Brumback, Christine Boomer
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US15/427,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20170143239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 702150, 702182-185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

In one aspect of the disclosed implementations, a device includes one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the device and providing activity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device also includes one or more processors for monitoring the activity data, and receiving or generating annotation data for annotating the activity data with one or more markers or indicators to define one or more characteristics of an activity session. The device also includes one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a user based on the monitoring. The device further includes a portable housing that encloses at least portions of the motion sensors, the processors and the feedback devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one sensor to provide activity data;

at least one processor;

a portable housing that encloses at least portions of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor; and

at least one user input device included in or integrated with the housing for receiving or sensing user input, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive the activity data; and

receive or generate annotation data to annotate the activity data with one or more markers or indicators to define a duration of time of a physical activity session and a type of activity performed during the physical activity session; and

receive and interpret the user input received or sensed via the at least one user input device, wherein a sensitivity of the user input device is based at least in part on the type of activity performed during the physical activity session.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to decrease the sensitivity of or deactivate the user input device when the type of activity performed during the physical activity session includes sleeping.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to decrease the sensitivity of or deactivate the at least one user input device when the type of activity performed during the physical activity session includes swimming.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one user input device includes at least one of a touchscreen and a physical button.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one environmental sensor to acquire environmental data or determine an environmental condition of the device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one user input device includes a plurality of user input devices, wherein the at least one processor is configured to switch from among the plurality of user input devices based at least in part on the environmental data or environmental conditions of the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one user input device includes a plurality of user input devices, wherein the at least one processor is configured to switch from among a plurality of user input devices based at least in part on the type of activity performed during the physical activity session.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor to sense motion and a physiological sensor to acquire physiological data or determine a physiological condition of a user.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to switch among a plurality of activity-tracking modes based at least in part on the one or more markers or indicators, wherein the plurality of activity-tracking modes includes at least one of a running mode, a walking mode, a stair-climbing mode, a bicycling mode, a swimming mode, or a sleep-tracking mode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to switch to a sleep-tracking mode based at least in part on activity data provided by at least one of the motion sensor and the physiological sensor.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to switch to a sleep-tracking mode when the physiological data or the physiological condition of the user reaches a threshold value.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive user input via the at least one user input device and to define the one or more markers or indicators based at least in part on the user input.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine one or more activity metrics based at least in part on the activity data and the annotation data.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a user based on the activity data.

15. A method implemented by a portable monitoring device, comprising:

sensing, by at least one sensor, to provide activity data;

receiving, by at least one processor, the activity data;

receiving or generating, by the at least one processor, annotation data to annotate the activity data with one or more markers or indicators;

using the one or more markers or indicators to define a duration of time of a physical activity session and a type of activity performed during the physical activity session;

receiving and interpreting, by at least one user input device, a user input, wherein a sensitivity of the user input device is based at least in part on the type of activity performed during the physical activity session.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

decreasing the sensitivity of or deactivating the at least one user input device when the type of activity performed during the physical activity session includes at least one of swimming and sleeping.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one user input device includes a plurality of user input devices, and wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring or determining, by at least an environmental sensor, environmental data or environmental conditions of the portable monitoring device; and

switching, by the at least one processor, from among the plurality of user input devices based at least in part on the environmental data or environmental condition.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor to sense motion and a physiological sensor to acquire physiological data or determine a physiological condition of a user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

switching, by the at least one processor, from among a plurality of activity-tracking modes based at least in part on the one or more markers or indicators, wherein the plurality of activity-tracking modes includes at least one of a running mode, a walking mode, a stair-climbing mode, a bicycling mode, a swimming mode, or a sleep-tracking mode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein switching from among a plurality of activity-tracking modes includes switching to a sleep-tracking mode based at least in part on activity data provided by at least one of the motion sensor and the physiological sensor.