Portable electronic device and computer software product

• US 8,169,326 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Niva, Arto, Kinnunen, Hannu, Posio, Tero, Heikkila, Ilkka
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US12/760,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.16, 340/539.24, 340/573.1, 340/870, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/870.19, 463/36, 600/587, 600/595, 600/300, 702/160, 482/4, 482/6, 482/8, 482/1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• 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 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable electronic device and computer software product. The portable electronic device comprises a motion detector for generating motion data characterizing the local movement of the portable electronic device, a motion intensity determiner for determining a instantaneous motion intensity value of the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data, and an active time counter for determining an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving active time accumulation information over a communication interface, wherein the active time accumulation information represents a sum of time periods during which an instantaneous motion intensity value determined from motion data meets predefined activity criteria, wherein the motion data represents local movement of a portable electronic device;

executing a game application with encoded instructions;

transferring the active time accumulation information to the game application; and

controlling the game application with a parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the game application further comprises affecting operation time of the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the game application further comprises affecting points distributed in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the game application further comprises affecting performance of electronic figures in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the game application further comprises affecting quantity of commodities used in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information from a portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the game application through a user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is executed in an application platform selected from a list comprising:

personal computer, portable computer, personal digital assistant, fixed or portable game console, and mobile phone.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive active time accumulation information, wherein the active time accumulation information represents a sum of time periods during which an instantaneous motion intensity value determined from motion data meets predefined activity criteria, wherein the motion data represents local movement of a portable electronic device; and

a processing unit configured to execute a game application, wherein the communication unit is further configured to transmit the active time accumulation information to the game application, wherein the game application is controllable with a parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein operation time of the game application is affected using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein points distributed in the game application are affected using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein performance of electronic figures in the game application is affected using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein quantity of commodities used in the game application is affected using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising an active time communication unit configured to receive the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information from a portable electronic device and to transfer the parameter to the game application.

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

receive active time accumulation information over a communication interface, wherein the active time accumulation information represents a sum of time periods during which an instantaneous motion intensity value determined from motion data meets predefined activity criteria, wherein the motion data represents local movement of a portable electronic device;

execute a game application with encoded instructions;

transfer the active time accumulation information to the game application; and

control the game application using a parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to control operation time of the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to control points distributed in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to control performance of electronic figures in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to control quantity of commodities used in the game application using the parameter proportional to the active time accumulation information.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to receive active time accumulation from a portable electronic device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 comprising instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to monitor the game application through a user interface.