Method of distinguishing running from walking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of distinguishing running from walking, comprising:
- attaching an accelerometer to a person, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer sensing accelerations along each of three orthogonal axes so that the accelerometer is operative regardless of whether the accelerometer is upright when attached to the person;
detecting, with the accelerometer, fluctuating whole-body accelerations experienced by the body of the person when moving on foot, whereinfluctuating accelerations within the whole-body accelerations detected by the accelerometer correspond to walking by the person, andfree-fall movements of the body of the person within the fluctuating whole-body accelerations detected by the accelerometer correspond to running by the person; and
determining whether the fluctuating whole-body accelerations comprise a free-fall movement of the body of the person, thereby distinguishing running by the person from walking by the person.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A person'"'"'s exercise monitored using an accelerometer to detect and count the steps of the person. Furthermore, acceleration profiling distinguishes walking from running and total distance covered in the exercise is estimated using different stride lengths for walking and running. The person'"'"'s pace may be maintained using a music playback unit with an adjustable rate of playback to influence the pace of the person with the music tempo.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A method of distinguishing running from walking, comprising:
-
attaching an accelerometer to a person, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer sensing accelerations along each of three orthogonal axes so that the accelerometer is operative regardless of whether the accelerometer is upright when attached to the person; detecting, with the accelerometer, fluctuating whole-body accelerations experienced by the body of the person when moving on foot, wherein fluctuating accelerations within the whole-body accelerations detected by the accelerometer correspond to walking by the person, and free-fall movements of the body of the person within the fluctuating whole-body accelerations detected by the accelerometer correspond to running by the person; and determining whether the fluctuating whole-body accelerations comprise a free-fall movement of the body of the person, thereby distinguishing running by the person from walking by the person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification