Sensor device with persistent low power beacon
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) operating a first device in a first operational mode in which a sensor and a transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit sensor data to a second device, the sensor data being a measurement of athletic performance;
(b) determining, by the first device, that a battery has reached a low power threshold that is a function of power consumed by the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal for a predetermined number of times; and
(c) in response to determining that the battery has reached the low power threshold,operating the first device in a second operational mode wherein the sensor is not used, but wherein the first device at least occasionally causes the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal to the second device;
wherein the transmission of the beacon signal occurs periodically for a period of time subsequent to detection of a stimulus by a transducer or to detection of user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One disclosed method involves providing a first device comprising a sensor configured to sense a stimulus experienced by the first device, a controller configured to process data received from the sensor and thereby obtain processed sensor data, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data, and a battery configured to supply power to at least the controller and the transmitter. The first device is operated in a first operational mode in which the sensor, the controller, and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit processed data. When the battery is in a low power condition, the first device is operated in a second operational mode wherein the sensor, controller, and transmitter are not used to obtain and transmit processed sensor data, but wherein the first device at least occasionally transmits a signal that indicates a low power condition of the battery.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) operating a first device in a first operational mode in which a sensor and a transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit sensor data to a second device, the sensor data being a measurement of athletic performance; (b) determining, by the first device, that a battery has reached a low power threshold that is a function of power consumed by the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal for a predetermined number of times; and (c) in response to determining that the battery has reached the low power threshold, operating the first device in a second operational mode wherein the sensor is not used, but wherein the first device at least occasionally causes the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal to the second device; wherein the transmission of the beacon signal occurs periodically for a period of time subsequent to detection of a stimulus by a transducer or to detection of user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a sensor configured to generate sensor data, the sensor data being a measurement of athletic performance;
a controller;
a transmitter configured to transmit the sensor data to a second device;
a battery; anda memory storing instructions, wherein the controller is configured to process the instructions to cause the apparatus at least to perform; operating in a first operational mode in which the sensor and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit the sensor data to the second device; determining that the battery has reached a low power threshold that is a function of power consumed by the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal for a predetermined number of times; and in response to determining that the battery has reached the low power threshold, operating in a second operational mode where the sensor is not used but wherein the transmitter at least occasionally transmits the beacon signal to the second device; wherein, when the apparatus is in the second operational mode, the apparatus is configured to detect stimulus or user input, and wherein the transmission of the beacon signal occurs periodically for a period of time subsequent to detection of the stimulus or to detection of the user input. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A memory storing instructions that, when processed by a
controller, are configured to cause an apparatus at least to perform: -
operating the apparatus in a first operational mode in which a sensor and a transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit sensor data to a second device, the sensor data being a measurement of athletic performance; determining that a battery of the apparatus has reached a low power threshold that is a function of power consumed by the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal for a predetermined number of times; and in response to determining that the battery has reached the low power threshold, operating the apparatus in a second operational mode where the sensor is prevented from operating but the transmitter at least occasionally transmits the beacon signal to the second device; wherein the transmission of the beacon signal occurs periodically for a period of time subsequent to detection of a stimulus by a transducer or to detection of user input. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification