CALIBRATION TECHNIQUES FOR ACTIVITY SENSING DEVICES

• US 20080262392A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kalayjian, Nicholas Robert, Ananny, John Meron
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,554 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 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.

13. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the activity monitoring system monitors physical activity performed by a user.

14. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the physical activity includes running or walking.

15. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the activity monitoring system is internal to a portable electronic device.

16. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media player.

17. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12,

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.

18. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein when the activity is running or walking by the user, then the second pace is faster than the first pace.

19. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast run, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow run.

20. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast walk, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow walk.

21. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the second modified calibration data is stored in multiple locations.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, 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.

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, 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.

24. An activity monitoring system arranged to monitor physical activity of a user, comprising:

a calibration engine arranged to calibrate the activity monitoring system by,

receiving default calibration data,

performing a first calibration to produce first modified calibration data, the first modified calibration data being derived from the default calibration data, and

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

25. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 24, wherein the physical activity is running or walking.

26. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 25,

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.

27. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 26 wherein the second pace is faster than the first pace.

28. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 27, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast run, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow run.

29. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 27, wherein the second pace pertains to a fast walk, and wherein the first pace pertains to a slow walk.

30. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 24, wherein the second modified calibration data is stored in multiple locations.

31. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 24, 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.

32. An activity monitoring system as recited in claim 24, 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.

33. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the activity monitoring system is internal to a portable electronic device.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media player.