PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• US 20160242693A1
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: ROUS, JOSEPH HENRICUS GERARDUS, MANUHUTU, LUCIA
• Application Number:
  US15/029,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242693A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/045 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/505 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• 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: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for promoting physical activity by users utilizing a plurality of components. Embodiments of the present invention collect data concerning user activity, analyze the data, and provide feedback to promote physical activity by the user. These functions may be provided by a single component or dispersed across a plurality of components, and may utilize a variety of intermediary devices to facilitate communications and presentation.

Claims

1. An activity monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor configured to measure data concerning user activity; and

a transceiver for wireless communications,

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit wireless communications comprising data concerning user activity, the wireless communications used to influence the contents of a story presented to the user of the activity monitor.

2. The activity monitor of claim 1, wherein the monitor is configured to be worn by a user.

3. The activity monitor of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications comprising data concerning user activity are transmitted in response to the physiological sensor measuring data concerning user activity that indicates the user activity exceeds a specified value.

4. A system for encouraging user activity, the device comprising:

a transceiver for receiving communications comprising data concerning user activity;

a processor configured to analyze data concerning user activity; and

an interface for providing a story whose contents vary in response to the results of the data analysis.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the communications comprising data concerning user activity are received from an activity monitor via an intermediary device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the story is presented to a user via an intermediary device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the intermediary device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, and a gaming console.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the presentation of the story is contingent on the presence of an intermediary device.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor analyzes the data concerning the user activity and compares such data against a desired level of user activity before presenting the story.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the story is chosen based at least in part on the data concerning user activity.

11. A method of encouraging user activity, the method comprising:

receiving communications comprising data concerning user activity obtained from a physiological sensor;

analyzing the data concerning user activity; and

providing a story whose contents vary in response to the results of the data analysis.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the story is presented to a user utilizing an intermediary device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising processing a purchase transaction story for later presentation.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the story is chosen based at least in part on the data concerning user activity.

13. The method of claim 13, wherein the story is only presented when the intermediary device is in communication with a second intermediary device.