Methods for Detecting and Recording Activity and Devices for Performing the Same

• US 20140142733A1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tropper, Seth A., Batour, Amado
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• 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 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 : Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 : Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 : involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 : based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 : Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 : Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 : for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Data is received from an activity tracking device. The received data indicates an amount of movement of the activity tracking device. The received data is associated with an account of a user of the activity tracking device. Feedback is generated for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data. The feedback is presented on a website with an indication of points accumulated by the user for the amount of movement of the activity tracking device over time.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data from an activity tracking device, the received data indicating an amount of movement of the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with an account of a user of the activity tracking device;

generating feedback for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data, the feedback presented on a website with an indication of points accumulated by the user for the amount of movement of the activity tracking device over time, the method being executed by a processor of a computer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to a device of the user with information that identifies the feedback that includes the indication of points.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the amount of movement of the activity tracking device is associated with a level of activity that is associated with the indication of points.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the website executes a computer application.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the feedback conveys information that identifies a reward for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the reward is associated with progress of the user over time.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the feedback is displayed on the website that is accessible via the account of the user.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the feedback is defined as a bonus, or a reward, or incentive points, or virtual currency, or a prize, or money, or an article, or a special power, or an indicia of a level, or a threshold reached, or a combination of two or more thereof.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device has a wearable form that can be worn by the user to track the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving data from an activity tracking device, the received data indicating an amount of movement of the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with a user of the activity tracking device;

generating data defining an image to be rendered on a computer display, the image defined as a virtual representation of the user, the virtual representation of the user being associated to the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data; and

providing the data defining the image by a website, the website providing access to a user account for the user for presenting achieved levels of the amount movement of the activity tracking device with an association to the image, the method being executed by a processor of a computer.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the image changes over time based on the achieved levels of the amount movement of the activity tracking device.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the image is an avatar.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the avatar is a virtual pet or a virtual person, or a virtual object.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

modifying a visual depiction of a status of the avatar based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device over time as indicated by the received data.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein an increase in movement of the activity tracking device over time as indicated by the received data causes an improvement in the visual depiction of the status of the avatar.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein a decrease in movement of the activity tracking device over time as indicated by the received data causes a worsening in the visual depiction of the status of the avatar.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the status of the avatar is a health condition of the avatar.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving data from a activity tracking device, the received data indicating an amount of movement of the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with a user of the activity tracking device;

generating an instruction for a computer game based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data, the instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions over time based on changes in the amount of movement of the activity tracking device; and

providing the instruction to the computer game, the method being executed by a processor of a computer.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the instruction directs the computer game to issue a reward to the user.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the reward is defined as points for use within the computer game.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of the user within the computer game.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of an entity associated with the user within the computer game.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the reward is defined as an activation of features within the computer game.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data reaches or exceeds an amount of movement associated with a threshold level of activity.

25. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the computer game is executed within a website.

26. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device, comprising:

computer executable instructions for receiving data from the activity tracking device, the received data indicating an amount of movement of the activity tracking device;

computer executable instructions for associating the received data with an account of a user of the activity tracking device;

computer executable instructions for generating feedback for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data, the feedback presented on a website with an indication of points accumulated by the user for the amount of movement of the activity tracking device over time.

27. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 26, wherein the feedback conveys information that identifies a reward for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

28. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 27, wherein the reward is associated with progress of the user over time.

29. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 26, wherein the activity tracking device has a wearable form that can be worn by the user to track the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

30. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

computer executable instructions for sending a message to a device of the user with information that identifies the feedback that includes the indication of points.