Calibration techniques for activity sensing devices

• US 20070270721A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalayjian, Nicholas Robert, Ananny, John Meron
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 : Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Improved techniques and systems to calibrate an electronic device that is providing activity sensing are disclosed. The activity being sensed can, for example, correspond to walking or running by a user. In one embodiment, calibration can be performed by a portable electronic device so that activity data it receives from a remote sensor device can be more accurately processed. The improved techniques and systems to calibrate can be used to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor. The portable electronic device can also offer a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based, customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating an activity monitoring system associated with a user, said method comprising:

(a) providing the activity monitoring system with default calibration data;

(b) performing a first calibration to produce first modified calibration data, the first modified calibration data being derived from the default calibration data; and

(c) subsequently performing a second calibration to produce second modified calibration data, the second modified calibration data being derived from the first modified calibration data.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity monitoring system monitors running or walking performed by a user.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity monitoring system is internal to a portable electronic device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media player.

5. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the first calibration is with respect to the user performing an activity that is monitored by the activity monitoring system at a first pace, and

wherein the second calibration is with respect to the user performing an activity that is monitored by the activity monitoring system at a second pace.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the activity is running or walking by the user, and wherein the second pace is faster than the first pace.

7. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast run, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow run.

8. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast walk, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow walk.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second modified calibration data is stored in multiple locations.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein

wherein the activity monitoring system includes at least a wearable portable electronic device that can operatively connect to a computer, and

wherein the second modified calibration data is stored in both the wearable portable electronic device and the computer.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein

wherein the activity monitoring system includes an activity sensor and a wearable portable electronic device, and

wherein the second modified calibration data is stored in both the wearable portable electronic device and the activity sensor.

12. A method for calibrating an activity monitoring system associated with a user, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a calibration request from the user;

(b) receiving an indication of a calibration distance;

(c) awaiting a calibration start indication before starting activity to be used for calibration;

(d) receiving activity data from an activity sensor associated with the activity monitoring system during the activity for calibration;

(e) estimating at least one of pace and distance based on the received activity data and an existing calibration model;

(f) awaiting receipt of a calibration stop indication;

(g) repeating said receiving (d) and said estimating (e) until said awaiting (f) receives the calibration stop indication; and

(h) modifying the existing calibration model based on at least the estimated distance from said estimating (e) and the calibration distance.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said modifying (h) comprises:

(h1) determining an accuracy ratio based on the calibration distance and the estimated distance; and

(h2) modifying the existing calibration model based on the accuracy ratio.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the existing calibration model is a line defined by a first point and a second point, wherein the line relates pace to ground contact time of a shoe of a user.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said modifying (h2) moves one of the first point and the second point an amount determined based on the accuracy ratio.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said modifying (h2) alters the line by pivoting the second point about the first point.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said modifying (h2) alters the line by moving the first point and the second point.

18. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said receiving (d) is periodically receiving the activity data.

19. A method for operating an activity monitoring apparatus associated with a user utilizing at least one shoe, said method comprising:

receiving shoe characteristic information pertaining to the shoe; and

operating the activity monitoring apparatus based at least in part on the shoe characteristic information.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said operating comprises:

modifying calibration data for use by the activity monitoring apparatus based at least in part on the shoe characteristic information.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said receiving receives the shoe characteristic information by user input with respect to a user input device of the activity monitoring apparatus.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the shoe characteristic information is provided by the user input of a shoe type or code.

23. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said receiving receives the shoe characteristic information from an electronic device within the shoe.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the electronic device within the shoe is a wireless device that can transmit the shoe characteristic information to the activity monitoring apparatus.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a RFID device.

26. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a user interface for providing user input to said portable electronic device and user output from said portable electronic device;

a calibration model;

an activity application that operates to monitor a physiological characteristic of a user of said portable electronic device, said activity application receives sensor data acquired from a remote sensor associated with the user, and said activity application processes the sensor data in view of said calibration model;

a calibration engine that operates to modify said calibration model in view of a calibration activity for which sensor data from the remote sensor is acquired and processed by said activity application or said calibration engine.

27. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said calibration model is defined by a line defined by first and second points, and wherein said calibration model is modified by moving both the first and second points.

28. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26, wherein in response to a first calibration activity, the first point is moved, and wherein in response to a second calibration activity, the second point is moved.

29. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 28, wherein in response to a first calibration activity, the first point is moved, and wherein in response to a second calibration activity, both the first point and the second point are moved.

30. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said calibration engine modifies said calibration model based on at least an estimated distance for the calibration activity and an actual calibration distance.

31. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the actual calibration distance is provided by said user interface.

32. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 30, wherein said calibration engine modifies said calibration model based on an accuracy ratio based on the calibration distance and the estimated distance.

33. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of said activity application and said calibration engine operate to monitor user performance during a calibration activity.

34. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 33, wherein at least one of said activity application and said calibration engine further operate to provide feedback to the user during the calibration activity.

35. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 34, wherein the calibration activity is running or walking, and wherein the feedback advises the user about their pace.

36. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for calibrating an activity monitoring system associated with a user, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for performing a first calibration to produce first modified calibration data, the first modified calibration data being derived from existing calibration data; and

computer program code for subsequently performing a second calibration to produce second modified calibration data, the second modified calibration data being derived from the first modified calibration data.

37. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for calibrating an activity monitoring system associated with a user, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving an indication of a calibration distance;

computer program code for awaiting a start indication before starting activity to be used for calibration;

computer program code for receiving activity data from an activity sensor associated with the activity monitoring system during the activity to be used for calibration;

computer program code for estimating at least one of pace and distance based on the received activity data and an existing calibration model;

computer program code for awaiting receipt of a stop indication that indicates the end of the activity to be used for calibration; and

computer program code for modifying the existing calibration model based on at least the estimated distance and the calibration distance.