Method for processing heart rate information in a portable computer

• US 7,018,339 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Collins, Jeff, Gibson, Paul, Montenegro, Robert, Birnbaum, Burton H., McPhee, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DROESCH, KRISTEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/083,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 600508-509, 600510-523, 128/903, 607 30- 32, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• 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: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An apparatus and method for processing heart rate information by wirelessly transferring the information between a heart rate monitor and a personal computer device (PCD). The information includes programming information and heart rate or training information collected during use of the heart rate monitor. The PCD may include a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pocket personal computer (pocket PC), or a laptop computer. The information is transferred over an infrared, sonic, audible, ultrasonic, magnetic, radio frequency, IEEE 802.11, or Bluetooth-based communication link.

Claims

1. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a wearable heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the wearable heart rate monitor and the portable computer device, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating a connect mode in the wearable heart rate monitor, the connect mode enabling a wireless communication link to be established with the wearable heart rate monitor;

initiating transfer software in the portable computer device, the transfer software controlling the transfer of information between the wearable heart rate monitor and the portable computer device through the wireless communication link, the information including setting information adapted to program the wearable heart rate monitor;

transferring the setting information bidirectionally between the wearable heart rate monitor and the portable computer device through the communication link comprising;

initiating a batch heart rate/training information transfer mode in the portable computer device;

transferring batch heart rate/training information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device comprising initiating wireless communication with the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device;

requesting heart rate monitor information from the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device;

transferring the heart rate monitor information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device;

requesting file information from the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device;

transferring the file information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device;

requesting heart rate information from the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device comprising requesting a quantity of samples, information associated with at least one of the samples, a quantity of laps, and information associated with at least one of the laps;

transferring the heart rate information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device;

storing the heart rate information in the portable computer device;

returning the heart rate monitor to a normal mode in response to completion of the batch transfer of the heart rate/training information; and

processing the heart rate information in the portable computer device.

2. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of processing further includes the step of displaying the processed information on the portable computer device.

3. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is Bluetooth.

4. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting a first wireless communication interface to the portable computer device and a second wireless communication interface to the heart rate monitor, the first wireless communication interface enabling the portable computer device to communicate through the communication link, the second wireless communication interface enabling the heart rate monitor to communicate through the communication link.

5. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining at least one of a physical location between and an orientation of at least one of the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device during the transfer of the information.

6. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the portable computer device includes at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), pocket personal computer (pocket PC), and laptop computer.

7. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of setting information, heart rate information, and training information.

8. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device includes at least one of the steps of uploading the information from the portable computer device to the heart rate monitor and downloading the information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device.

9. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of initiating transfer software in the portable computer device includes the step of initiating transfer setting information software in the portable computer device, the transfer setting information controlling the transfer of setting information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device.

10. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of initiating transfer software in the portable computer device includes the step of initiating transfer heart rate/training information software in the portable computer device, the heart rate/training information software controlling the transfer of heart rate/training information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device.

11. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device includes the steps of:

initiating an upload setting information mode in the portable computer device;

uploading setting information from the portable computer device to the heart rate monitor; and

returning the heart rate monitor to a normal mode in response to completion of the upload of the setting information.

12. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device includes the steps of:

initiating a download setting information mode in the portable computer device;

downloading setting information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device; and

initiating a normal mode in the heart rate monitor in response to completion of the download of the setting information.

13. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of initiating wireless communication with the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device includes the step of initializing a serial port on the portable computer device.

14. A method of processing heart rate information in a port able computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of requesting file information from the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device includes at least one of the steps of verifying whether the heart rate information has been substantially completely transferred to the portable computer device in the form of files, specifying the index of at least one of the transferred files to be processed by the portable computer device, and requesting information associated with at least one of the transferred files.

15. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the file information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device includes the step of transferring information associated with at least one of the transferred files.

16. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the heart rate information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device includes the step of transferring a quantity of samples, information associated with at least one of the samples, a quantity of laps, and information associated with at least one of the laps.

17. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating wireless communication with the heart rate monitor by the portable computer device.

18. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of processing the heart rate information by the portable computer device.

19. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 18, wherein the step of processing the heart rate information in the portable computer device further includes the step of performing at least one of graphical analysis and statistical analysis.

20. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 18, wherein the step of processing the heart rate information by the portable computer device includes the step of calculating at least one of a duration of time in a target heart rate zone, a duration of time above the target heart rate zone, a duration of time below the target heart rate zone, an average heart rate, and a VO₂ level.

21. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, further comprising the step of synchronizing the transfer of heart rate information with a program on at least one of the portable computer device and the Internet.

22. A method of processing heart rate information in a portable computer device comprising monitoring by a heart rate monitor and wirelessly transferring the heart rate information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the information between the heart rate monitor and the portable computer device includes the steps of:

initiating a real-time heart rate/training information transfer mode in the portable computer device;

transferring heart rate/training information from the heart rate monitor to the portable computer device in substantially real-time; and

returning the heart rate monitor to a normal mode in response to completion of the substantially real-time transfer of the heart rate/training.