Personal Activity Tracking System

• US 20160250516A1
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• 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 10,010,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

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:

a housing configured to be affixed to a person;

a motion detection device disposed within the housing, the motion detection device including circuitry configured to detect movement of the housing; and

a processor disposed within the housing, the processor configured to periodically sample the motion detection device to determine whether or not movement of the housing has occurred, the processor configured to direct a reduction in an amount of electrical power supplied to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has not occurred at a sampling of the motion detection device, the processor configured to direct supply of a normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has occurred at a second sampling of the motion detection device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to periodically sample the motion detection device in accordance with an internal timer.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion detection device is configured to signal the processor upon detection of movement by the motion detection device.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon receiving the signal from the motion detection device indicating detection of movement by the motion detection device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reduction in the amount of electrical power supplied to the processor is defined to put the processor into a sleep mode of operation.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor for a preset duration upon entering a normal mode of operation from the sleep mode of operation.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a power switch configured to trigger supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon activation of the power switch.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a capacitor configured to maintain the power switch in an on state when a sufficient amount of electrical charge is stored in the capacitor; and

a resistor connected to control a reduction in the amount of electrical charge stored in the capacitor as a function of time.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to direct recharging of the capacitor in accordance with detection of movement by the motion detection device.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

operating the processor to periodically sample the motion detection device in accordance with an internal timer.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

operating the motion detection device to signal the processor upon detection of movement by the motion detection device.

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

operating the processor to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon receiving the signal from the motion detection device indicating detection of movement by the motion detection device.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reduction in the amount of electrical power supplied to the processor is defined to put the processor into a sleep mode of operation.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

operating the processor to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor for a preset duration upon entering a normal mode of operation from the sleep mode of operation.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon activation of a power switch.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

maintaining the power switch in an on state when a sufficient amount of electrical charge is stored in a capacitor; and

reducing the amount of electrical charge stored in the capacitor as a function time in a controlled manner.

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

operating the processor to direct recharging of the capacitor in accordance with detection of movement by the motion detection device.

11. A method, comprising:

operating a motion detection device to detect movement of a housing within which the motion detection device is disposed, the housing configured to be affixed to a person;

operating a processor to periodically sample the motion detection device to determine whether or not movement of the housing has occurred, the processor disposed within the housing;

operating the processor to direct a reduction in an amount of electrical power supplied to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has not occurred at a sampling of the motion detection device; and

operating the processor to direct supply of a normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has occurred at a second sampling of the motion detection device.

20. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person.

21. A system, comprising:

a housing configured to be affixed to a person; and

a physical activity tracking device disposed within the housing, the physical activity tracking device configured to detect movement of the person,

the physical activity tracking device including a display, the physical activity tracking device configured to show a visual indication of an amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device on the display,

the physical activity tracking device including a transmitter,

the physical activity tracking device configured to communicate data wirelessly through the transmitter in a bi-directional manner between the physical activity tracking device and a secondary electronic device, the data communicated from the physical activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device including the amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device, the data communicated from the physical activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device causing the secondary electronic device to perform one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the person.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein a portion of the data communicated from the physical activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device is associated with operation of the physical activity tracking device.

23. The system 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.

24. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person.

25. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the secondary electronic device includes an application defined to perform the one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the person when the amount of movement of the person reaches or exceeds a threshold level for a type of movement corresponding to the amount of movement of the person.

26. A method, comprising:

detecting movement of a person by using a physical activity tracking device associated with the person, the physical activity tracking device included within a housing configured to be affixed to 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 wirelessly through a transmitter of the physical activity tracking device in a bi-directional manner between the physical activity tracking device and a secondary electronic device, the data including the amount of movement of the person as detected by the physical activity tracking device, the secondary electronic device including an application for execution on the secondary electronic device, the application executing in part based on the amount of movement of the person as communicated from the physical activity tracking device to the secondary electronic device, the application defined to perform one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the person.

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

28. The method as recited in claim 26, 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.

29. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person.

30. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the application is defined to perform the one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the person when the amount of movement of the person reaches or exceeds a threshold level for a type of movement corresponding to the amount of movement of the person.