Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot

• US 6,876,947 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fitsense Technology Incorporated (Fitlinxx Incorporated)
• Inventors: Darley, Jesse, Ohlenbusch, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/643,188
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160, 702/144, 702/176, 735/97, 324/160, 782141-142, 368/10, 377/24.2, 377/23
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• 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 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 : Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• 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 2225/02 : Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02827 : Elastic parameters, strength or force
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 : for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 : with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0922 : of the bending or flexing mode type
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 : for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes steps of: (a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing; (b) identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing; (c) defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and (d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user. In another embodiment, a method includes steps of: (a) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and (b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.

Claims

1. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing;

(b) identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing;

(c) defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and

(d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user;

wherein the step (c) includes a step of;

(c1) identifying a single user-specific calibration constant that defines the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a pace of the user during the second outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the second outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step (a) includes steps of (a1) determining a plurality of foot contact times during the first outing, and (a2) calculating the average foot contact time of the user during the first outing based upon the plurality of determined foot contact times; and

the step (b) includes steps of (b1) determining an amount of time that elapsed during the first outing, and (b2) calculating the average pace of the user during the first outing based upon the amount of time that elapsed during the outing and the distance traveled during the outing.

5. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing;

(b) identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing;

(c) defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and

(d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user;

wherein the step (c) includes steps of;

(c1) on a graph having foot contact times of the user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determining a location of a first point particular to the user;

(c2) identifying a second point on the graph independent of the user; and

(c3) based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, defining the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user by defining a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (c3) includes a step of defining the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user by defining a line on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the coordinate of the second point on the second coordinate axis is zero.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a pace of the user during the second outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the second outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the step (a) includes steps of (a1) determining a plurality of foot contact times during the first outing, and (a2) calculating the average foot contact time of the user during the first outing based upon the plurality of determined foot contact times; and

the step (b) includes steps of (b1) determining an amount of time that elapsed during the first outing, and (b2) calculating the average pace of the user during the first outing based upon the amount of time that elapsed during the outing and the distance traveled during the outing.

11. A method, a comprising steps of:

(a) on a graph having foot contact times of a user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determining a location of a first point particular to the user;

(b) identifying a second point on the graph independent of the user;

(c) based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, defining a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points; and

(d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined curve.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step (c) includes a step of:

(c1) defining the curve as a line on the graph that intercepts both the first and second points.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during an outing; and

(f) calculating a pace of the user during the outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the curve.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during an outing; and

(f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the outing by including the determined plurality of foot contact times in an equation defining the curve.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step (c) includes a step of:

(c1) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that identifies a location of the first point on the graph, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to identify the location of the first point on the graph.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the coordinate of the second point on the second coordinate axis is zero.

17. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, defining a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user; and

(b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the second relationship.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising steps of:

(c) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during an outing; and

(d) calculating a pace of the user during the outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the second relationship.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising steps of:

(c) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during an outing; and

(d) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the second relationship.

20. A method, comprising a step of:

(a) determining a speed of a user in locomotion on foot by including at least one determined foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the method further includes a step of (b) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user;

the method further includes a step of (c) calculating an average foot contact time of the user based upon the plurality of foot contact times; and

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining an average speed of the user by using the determined average foot contact time as the at least one determined foot contact time in the equation.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising a step of:

(b) determining a distance traveled by the user based upon the determined speed of the user.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the equation defines a linear relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

24. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, defining a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user; and

(b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the second relationship.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising steps of:

(c) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during an outing; and

(d) calculating a pace of the user during the outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the second relationship.

26. The method 24, further comprising steps of:

(c) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during an outing; and

(d) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the second relationship.

27. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing;

(b) identifying an average speed of the user during the first outing;

(c) defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average speed identified during the first outing; and

(d) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the defined relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average speeds identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a speed of the user during the second outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during a second outing; and

(f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the second outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the step (a) includes steps of (a1) determining a plurality of foot contact times during the first outing, and (a2) calculating the average foot contact time of the user during the first outing based upon the plurality of determined foot contact times; and

the step (b) includes steps of (b1) determining an amount of time that elapsed during the first outing, and (b) calculating the average speed of the user during the first outing based upon the amount of time that elapsed during the outing and the distance traveled during the outing.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the step (c) includes a step of:

(c1) identifying a single user-specific calibration constant that defines the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship.

33. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and

(b) calibrating at least one device that monitors activity of the user in locomotion on foot based upon the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising steps of:

(c) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during an outing; and

(d) calculating a speed of the user during the outing by including the determined at least one foot contact time in an equation defining the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising steps of:

(e) determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during an outing; and

(f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

36. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average pace identified during a first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user without any other user-specific calibration constants being used to define the relationship.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, on a graph having foot contact times of the user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determine a location of a first point particular to the user, to identify a second point on the graph independent of the user, and to, based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, define the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user by defining a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to define the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user by defining a line on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the coordinate of the second point on the second coordinate axis is zero.

41. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user without any other user-specific calibration constants being used to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

42. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to, on a graph having foot contact times of a user on a first coordinate axis and paces of the user on a second coordinate axis, determine a location of a first point particular to the user, to identify a second point on the graph independent of the user, and to, based upon locations of the first and second points on the graph, define a curve on the graph that intercepts both of the first and second points, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined curve.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to define the curve as a line on the graph that intercepts both the first and second points.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to identify a location of the first point on the graph without using any other user-specific calibration constants to identify the location of the first point on the graph.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the coordinate of the second point on the second coordinate axis is zero.

46. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to, based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, define a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relation ship.

47. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to, determine a speed of a user in locomotion on foot by including at least one determined foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a distance traveled by the user based upon the determined speed of the user.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the equation defines a linear relationship between the inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

50. A system, comprising

at least one processor configured to, based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, define a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.

51. A system, comprising

at least one processor configured to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user based upon an average foot contact time and an average speed determined during a first outing, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured such that no other average foot contact times and no other average speeds identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user without using any other user-specific calibration constants to define the relationship.

54. A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to use a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user without using any other user-specific calibration constants to define the relationship, the at least one processor being further configured to calculate at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.

55. A system, comprising:

means for defining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average pace identified during a first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship; and

means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

56. A system, comprising:

means for using a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and

means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the defined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

57. A system, comprising:

means for, based upon a first relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, defining a second relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user; and

means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.

58. A system, comprising:

means for determining at least on foot contact time of a user; and

means for determining a speed of the user by including the at least one foot contact time in an equation defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

59. A system, comprising:

means for, based upon a first relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, defining a second relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user; and

means for calculating at least one of a pace of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the second relationship.

60. A system, comprising:

means for defining a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon an average foot contact time and an average speed identified during a first outing; and

means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during a second outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the second outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user.

61. A system, comprising:

means for using a single user-specific calibration constant to define a relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of a user and corresponding speeds of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship; and

means for calculating at least one of a speed of the user and a distance traveled by the user during an outing based upon at least one foot contact time determined during the outing and the relationship between inverse values of foot contact times of the user and corresponding speeds of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.