Sports Monitoring System for Headphones, Earbuds and/or Headsets

• US 20170010858A1
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Prest, Christopher, Hoellwarth, Quin C.
• Application Number:
  US15/273,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083

Abstract

A monitoring system that can be placed proximate to the head or ear of a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the monitoring system can be used with headphones, earbuds or headsets. The monitoring system can, for example, be used to monitor user activity, such as during exercise or sporting activities. The positioning of the monitoring system can also facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such as temperature, perspiration and heart rate. The monitoring system can also be used to control a an electronic device. In one embodiment, the monitoring system facilitates user control of the electronic device using head gestures.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of an apparatus having an audio output device configured to be positioned in or proximate to a user'"'"'s ear, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from a motion sensor of the apparatus;

receiving biometric data from a biometric sensor of the apparatus;

identifying a user characteristic using the motion data and biometric data; and

configuring a command based on the identified user characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring the command to determine a media selection for playback on an electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving touch input from an input device of the apparatus and configuring the command using the touch input.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring the command as a speech command for playback as speech by an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving proximity data from a proximity sensor of the apparatus and configuring the command using the proximity data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising self-actuating the apparatus based at least in part on the proximity data.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising self-actuating the apparatus based at least in part on the motion data or biometric data.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving direction data from a direction sensor of the apparatus and determining a direction the user is looking using the direction data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising configuring the command to turn on or off a display of an electronic device based on the direction data.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining distance traveled by the user using the motion data and generating feedback to the user through the apparatus at predetermined distances.

12. The method of claim 2, where the biometric data is user heart rate.

13. The method of claim 2, where the biometric data is user temperature.