Portable electronic device, method, and computer-readable medium for determining user's activity level

• US 8,159,353 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Laukkanen, Raija, Kiuru, Eeva
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US11/958,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/604, 340/605, 600/300, 600/595, 600/513, 600/519, 128/903, 128/920, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable electronic device, a method, and a computer software product. The portable electronic device comprises an active time unit for determining a user activity level during a predetermined period of time; and a processing unit for determining a user inactivity level during a predetermined period of time on the basis of the determined activity level.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

an active time unit for determining an activity level associated with a user of the portable electronic device during a predetermined period of time; and

a processing unit for determining an inactivity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device during a predetermined period of time on the basis of the determined activity level, the processing unit detecting at least one of an optimal inactivity level and a maximum inactivity level, the optimal inactivity level comprising an optimal level of inactivity that is not advisable to be exceeded, the maximum inactivity level comprising a maximum level of inactivity an exceeding of which is to be avoided, the processing unit notifying the user of the portable electronic device in response to detecting at least one of the optimal inactivity level and the maximum inactivity level, thereby increasing the user'"'"'s awareness of the user'"'"'s inactivity level and increasing the user'"'"'s ability to maintain a more active lifestyle.

2. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in order to determine the user activity level, the active time unit is configured to add up periods of time during which an instantaneous motion intensity value meets predetermined activity conditions.

3. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active time unit comprises at least one activity sensor for measuring the activity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device, and the processing unit is configured to use the measured activity level in determining the inactivity level.

4. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one activity sensor is configured to measure muscular activity of the user of the portable electronic device.

5. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one activity sensor is configured to measure heart rate of the user of the portable electronic device.

6. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active time unit comprises at least one acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration from movement of the device when the user of the portable electronic device is moving, and the processing unit is configured to use the measured acceleration in determining the inactivity level.

7. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect reaching at least one predetermined threshold value in the determined inactivity level.

8. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detected predetermined threshold value is the optimal inactivity level during the predetermined period of time.

9. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detected predetermined threshold value is the maximum inactivity level during the predetermined period of time.

10. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an indicator for indicating the determined inactivity level.

11. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate reaching at least one predetermined threshold level in the inactivity level.

12. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a wrist device.

13. A method comprising:

determining an activity level associated with the user of a portable electronic device during a predetermined period of time on the basis of the portable electronic device used by the user;

determining an inactivity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device during the predetermined period of time on the basis of the determined activity level;

detecting at least one of the optimal inactivity level and a maximum inactivity level, the optimal inactivity level comprising an optimal level of inactivity that is not advisable to be exceeded, the maximum inactivity level comprising a maximum level of inactivity an exceeding of which is to be avoided; and

notifying the user of the portable electronic device in response to detecting at least one of the optimal inactivity level and the maximum inactivity level, thereby increasing the user'"'"'s awareness of the user'"'"'s inactivity level and increasing the user'"'"'s ability to maintain a more active lifestyle.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising, in order to determine the activity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device, adding up periods of time during which an instantaneous motion intensity value meets predetermined activity conditions.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising measuring the activity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device by means of at least one activity sensor, and using the measured activity level in determining the inactivity level.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising measuring muscular activity of the user of the portable electronic device by means of at least one activity sensor.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising measuring heart rate of the user of the portable electronic device by means of at least one activity sensor.

18. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising measuring acceleration from movement of the device when the user of the portable electronic device is moving by means of at least one acceleration sensor, and using the measured acceleration in determining the inactivity level.

19. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising detecting reaching at least one predetermined threshold value in the determined inactivity level.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising the detected predetermined threshold value being the optimal inactivity level during the predetermined period of time.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising the detected predetermined threshold value being the maximum inactivity level during the predetermined period of time.

22. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising indicating the determined inactivity level.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising indicating reaching at least one predetermined threshold value in the inactivity level.

24. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

determine an activity level associated with the user of a portable electronic device during a predetermined period of time on the basis of data produced by the portable electronic device used by the user;

determine an inactivity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device during the predetermined period of time on the basis of the determined activity level;

detect at least one of an optimal inactivity level and a maximum inactivity level, the optimal inactivity level comprising an optimal level of inactivity that is not advisable to be exceeded, the maximum inactivity level comprising a maximum level of inactivity an exceeding of which is to be avoided; and

notify the user of the portable electronic device in response to detecting at least one of the optimal inactivity level and the maximum inactivity level, thereby increasing the user'"'"'s awareness of the user'"'"'s inactivity level and increasing the user'"'"'s ability to maintain a more active lifestyle.

25. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to add up periods of time during which an instantaneous motion intensity value meets predetermined activity conditions.

26. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to measure the activity level associated with the user of the portable electronic device by means of at least one activity sensor, and using the measured activity level in determining the inactivity level.

27. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to measure acceleration from movement of the device when the user of the portable electronic device is moving by means of at least one acceleration sensor, and using the measured acceleration in determining the inactivity level.

28. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to detect reaching at least one predetermined threshold value in the determined inactivity level.

29. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to indicate the determined inactivity level.

30. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the processing device to indicate reaching at least one predetermined threshold value in the inactivity level.