Methods, Systems and Devices for Generating Real-Time Activity Data Updates to Display Devices

• US 20140172362A1
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Burton, Barry, Panther, Heiko, Park, James, Friedman, Eric, Yuen, Shelten, Brumback, Christine, Roberts, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 3/00 Counters with additional facilities generating electric pulses at random intervals H03K3/84
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices are provided for displaying monitored activity data in substantial real-time on a screen of a computing device. One example method includes capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device. The motion data is quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user. The method includes connecting the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, and sending motion data from the activity tracking device to the computing device for display of one or more of the plurality of metrics on a graphical user interface of the computing device. At least one of the plurality of metrics displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in substantial real-time based on the motion data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising,

capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device, the motion data quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;

connecting the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection; and

sending motion data from the activity tracking device to the computing device for display of one or more of the plurality of metrics on a graphical user interface of the computing device;

wherein at least one of the plurality of metrics displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in substantial real-time based on the motion data, the method being executed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metric is a step count that changes by showing increasing numerical or graphical data on the graphical user interface of the computing device as motion quantified as steps is captured by the activity tracking device and the step count is shown to pause after the motion quantified is insufficient or lacking to qualify as a step count.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

enabling a wireless data connection when the activity tracking device is within a proximity distance of the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a smartphone that is pre-paired to communicate via a wireless data connection with the activity tracking device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

pausing the sending of motion data when the activity tracking device is beyond a proximity distance of the computing device;

storing motion data captured by the activity tracking device;

reestablishing a connection between the activity tracking device and the computing device; and

sending motion data from the storage to computing device, the sent motion data used to increment the metric to include metric data stored in the activity tracking device while the connection was paused or absent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion data is transferred from storage of the activity tracking device to the computing device, and upon a sync operation, transferring the motion data to a server by the computing device over an Internet connection, the server acting to update the plurality of metrics associated with the motion data produced by way of the activity of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving setting configurations from a server, as obtained by the computing device, the setting configurations being received for the user associated with a user account that is associated with the activity tracking device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metrics include step count metrics, or stair count metrics, or distance traveled metrics, or active time metrics, or calories burned metrics, or sleep metrics, or combinations two or more thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of metrics is displayable on a screen of the activity tracking device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a data transfer rate between the activity tracking device and the computing device is set based on a scaled-down connection interval for the sending of the motion data to enable the substantial real-time display on a screen of the computing device.

11. A device configured for capture of activity for a user, comprising,

a housing;

a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user, the motion data quantifiable to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;

a memory for storing the captured motion data; and

a wireless communications circuit;

a processor for managing connection of the device with a computing device using the wireless communication circuit, the processor further managing sending of motion data to the computing device for display of at least one of the plurality of metrics on a graphical user interface of the computing device, the sending of motion data to the computing device is configured to occur for motion data that is captured, the at least one of the plurality of metrics displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change over time for captured motion data.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein in response to processing by the processor, a metric is defined as a step count that is shown increasing numerically or graphically on the graphical user interface of the computing device as motion quantified as steps is captured by the device and the step count is shown to pause when the motion quantified is insufficient or lacking to qualify as a step count.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor further,

manages detection of the device being within a proximity distance from the computing device;

and

manages enablement of the wireless communication circuit.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor further,

manages pausing the sending of motion data when the device is beyond a proximity distance;

manages storing motion data captured by the device.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing is part of a wearable wrist attachable structure, or a structure that can be carried or worn by the user.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the wearable wrist attachable structure is defined at least partially from a plastic material.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication circuit processes one of WiFi processing logic, or Bluetooth (BT) processing logic, or radio processing logic.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the computing device is configured for access with a server over the Internet, the server receives the motion data or the plurality of metrics of the device.

19. The device of claim 11, further comprising,

a screen for displaying at least one of the plurality of metrics.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor sets a data transfer rate based on a scaled-down connection interval between the device and the computing device while sending the motion data to the computing device for display.

21. The device of claim 11, further comprising,

an altimeter for producing altitude data.

22. The device of claim 11, wherein the screen having dead front operation is transiently visible.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the screen is lit to enable display of at least one of the metrics and is not lit when off.

24. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensor is or further includes an accelerometer.

25. The device of claim 11, further comprising,

a clock for displaying time of day, the clock used in setting or managing vibration alarms at particular times of day.

26. Computer readable media having program instructions for processing data of an activity tracking device, the computer readable media comprising,

program instructions for capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device, the motion data quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;

program instructions for connecting the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection; and

program instructions for sending motion data from the activity tracking device to the computing device for display of one or more of the plurality of metrics on a graphical user interface of the computing device, the at least one of the plurality of metrics displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in substantial real-time based on the motion data.

27. The computer readable media of claim 26, wherein the metric is a step count that changes by showing increasing numerical or graphical data on the graphical user interface of the computing device as motion quantified as steps is captured by the activity tracking device and the step count is shown to pause after the motion quantified is insufficient or lacking to qualify as a step count.

28. The computer readable media of claim 26, further comprising,

program instructions for enabling a wireless data connection when the activity tracking device is within a proximity distance of the computing device.

29. The computer readable media of claim 26, wherein the computing device is a smartphone that is pre-paired to communicate via a wireless data connection with the activity tracking device.

30. The computer readable media of claim 26, further comprising,

program instructions for pausing the sending of motion data when the activity tracking device is beyond a proximity distance of the computing device;

program instructions for storing motion data captured by the activity tracking device;

program instructions for reestablishing a connection between the activity tracking device and the computing device; and

program instructions for sending motion data from the storage to computing device, the sent motion data used to increment the metric to include metric data stored in the activity tracking device while the connection was paused or absent.