Personal Activity Tracking System

• US 20140143038A1
• 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 9,352,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.19
• 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

An activity tracking device is defined to detect and record movement of a person to which the activity tracking device is affixed. A secondary electronic device is defined separate from the activity tracking device. The secondary electronic device is defined to receive data from the activity tracking device regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person. A website is defined to communicate with connected devices including the secondary electronic device. The website is defined to provide a user account for the person. The website is defined to convey information regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person through the user account.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an activity tracking device defined to detect and record movement of a person to which the activity tracking device is affixed;

a secondary electronic device defined separate from the activity tracking device, the secondary electronic device defined to receive data from the activity tracking device regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person; and

a website defined to communicate with connected devices including the secondary electronic device, the website defined to provide a user account for the person, the website defined to convey information regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person through the user account.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device is connected to a band defined to be worn on a wrist of the person.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the activity tracking device is removable from the band.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device includes a motion detection device having circuitry for detecting movement of the activity tracking device.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device includes a display for visually conveying information regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device includes communication circuitry for communicating data regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person from the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the communication circuitry is defined to communicate data wirelessly to the secondary electronic device.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the communication circuitry is defined to communicate data through an electrical contact to the secondary electronic device.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary device is a computer.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, 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.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting and recording movement of a person by use of an activity tracking device affixed to the person;

receiving data from the activity tracking device at a secondary electronic device, the received data regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person, the secondary electronic device defined separate from the activity tracking device;

providing a user account for the person through a website, the website defined to communicate with connected devices including the secondary electronic device; and

conveying information through the user account of the website regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the activity tracking device is connected to a band defined to be worn on a wrist of the person.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the activity tracking device is removable from the band.

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

detecting movement of the activity tracking device by using a motion detection device within the activity tracking device.

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

visually conveying information regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person on a display of the activity tracking device.

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

communicating data regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person from the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the data regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person is communicated wirelessly from the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the data regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person is communicated from the activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device through an electrical contact.

19. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the secondary device is a computer.

20. A method as recited in claim 11, 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.

21. A method, comprising:

detecting movement of a person by using a physical activity tracking device associated with the person, wherein the physical activity tracking device is included within a band formed to secure to a part of the person;

displaying a visual indication of an amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device on a display of the physical activity tracking device; and

communicating data in a bi-directional manner between the physical activity tracking device and a secondary electronic device.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein communicating the data in the bi-directional manner is performed through an electrical contact of the physical activity tracking device.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein communicating the data in the bi-directional manner is performed wirelessly through a transmitter of the physical activity tracking device.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein communicating the data in the bi-directional manner is performed in part through an electrical contact of the physical activity tracking device and in part wirelessly through a transmitter of the physical activity tracking device.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein a portion of the data is associated with the amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device.

26. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein a portion of the data is associated with operation of the physical activity tracking device.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein another portion of the data is associated with the amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device.

28. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the secondary 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.