Methods for Detecting and Recording Physical Activity of Person

• US 20140143031A1
• 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 8,909,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• 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

A motion detection component is operated to detect movement of the motion detection component. The movement detected by the motion detection component is recorded. A display is operated to provide a visual indication of an amount of the recorded movement. Electrical signals are communicated from the motion detection component through an electrical contact. The electrical signals are associated with the detected and recorded movement of the motion detection component. The motion detection component, the display, and the electrical contact are included within a band formed to secure to a part of a human body.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting and recording movement of a human body by use of a motion detection component;

providing a visual indication on a display of an amount of the recorded movement of the motion detection component; and

communicating electrical signals from the motion detection component through an electrical contact, the electrical signals associated with the detected and recorded movement of the motion detection component,

wherein the motion detection component, the display, and the electrical contact are included within a band formed to secure to a part of the human body.

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

translating the amount of recorded movement into an amount of points; and

displaying the amount of points on the display.

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

displaying an alphanumeric message on the display, the alphanumeric message indicating the amount of recorded movement.

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

communicating electrical signals associated with the detected and recorded movement of the motion detection component through the electrical contact to circuitry within the band.

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

communicating electrical signals associated with the detected and recorded movement of the motion detection component through the electrical contact to a secondary device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the secondary device is an electronic device that includes a computer processor.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the electronic device is one or more of a game, a toy, a game controller, a computer interface device, a cell phone, a mobile data communication device, a microprocessor, and a computer.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the band is defined to allow removal of the motion detection component and display from the band.

9. A method, comprising:

detecting movement of a human body by use of a motion detection component;

recording movement data representing the movement detected using the motion detection component;

displaying a visual indication of an amount of movement represented by the recorded movement data; and

communicating the recorded movement data to a secondary device using a transmitter,

wherein the motion detection component and the transmitter are included within a band formed to secure to a part of the human body.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the secondary device is a computer.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

generating and transmitting radio frequency signals through the transmitter in accordance with a communication protocol to communicate the recorded movement data to the secondary device.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the secondary device is one or more of a game, a toy, a game controller, a computer interface device, a cell phone, a mobile data communication device, a microprocessor, and a computer.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting movement of a human body by use of a motion detection component;

executing discernment logic to determine and record an amount of activity associated with the detected movement of the human body; and

signaling when the amount of recorded activity has exceeded a predetermined amount of activity, the signaling performed by a notification component,

wherein the motion detection component, the discernment logic, and the notification component are included within a band formed to secure to a part of the human body.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

displaying an alphanumeric message indicating the amount of recorded activity, the displaying performed by the notification component.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

translating the amount of recorded activity into an amount of points, the translating performed by the activity discernment logic; and

displaying the amount of points, the displaying performed by the notification component.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

determining a type of physical activity associated with the recorded activity, the determining performed by the activity discernment logic; and

recording an amount of the type of physical activity, the recording performed by the activity discernment logic.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

indicating the recorded amount of the type of physical activity, the indicating performed by the notification component.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

determining multiple types of physical activity through the activity discernment logic; and

separately recording an amount of each of the multiple types of physical activity associated with the recorded activity, the separately recording performed by the activity discernment logic.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

separately indicating the recorded amount of each of the multiple types of physical activity, the separately indicating performed by the notification component.

20. A method, comprising:

detecting and recording movement of a person by use of a motion detection component of an activity tracking device, wherein the activity tracking device is included within a band defined to be worn by the person;

indicating an amount of recorded movement of the activity tracking device using a notification component of the activity tracking device; and

communicating data associated with the amount of recorded movement of the physical activity tracking device to a secondary electronic device, the communicating performed by communication circuitry within the activity tracking device.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

connecting an electrical contact of the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

using a coupling device to electrically connect the electrical contact to the secondary electronic device.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

connecting the coupling device to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector of the secondary electronic device.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

electrically connecting the communication circuitry to the secondary electronic device through the electrical contact.

25. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

wirelessly communicating data associated with the amount of recorded movement of the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device, the wirelessly communicating performed using a transmitter connected in electrical communication with the communication circuitry.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

generating and transmitting radio frequency signals through the transmitter in accordance with a communication protocol.

27. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the secondary device is a computer.

28. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the secondary device is one or more of a game, a toy, a game controller, a computer interface device, a cell phone, a mobile data communication device, a microprocessor, and a computer.

29. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

removing the activity tracking device from the band; and

operating the activity tracking device separate from the band.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

reconnecting the activity tracking device to the band.