Biometric sensing device having adaptive data threshold, a performance goal, and a goal celebration display

• US 8,734,296 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Brumback, Christine Boomer, Knight, David Wayne, Messenger, Jayson Dean Michilena, Hong, Jung Ook
• Primary Examiner(s): HARWARD, SOREN T
• Application Number:
  US14/050,166
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/74 : Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/10 : electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/202 : glucose
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/205 : P-CO2, i.e. partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 : skin conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 : Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• 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: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A biometric monitoring device with a display is provided. The biometric monitoring device may track the completion progress towards one or more biometric performance goals and provide a goal celebration indicator upon completion of a biometric performance goal and subsequent receipt of an input signal. In some implementations, the completion of a biometric performance goal may be signaled prior to receipt of the input signal using a secondary indicator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

one or more biometric sensors;

a display;

at least one processor; and

a memory, wherein;

the memory, the at least one processor, the one or more biometric sensors, and the display are housed in the housing,

the memory, the at least one processor, the one or more biometric sensors, and the display are communicatively connected with one another, and

the memory stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to;

a) receive biometric data from the one or more biometric sensors,

b) calculate at least one biometric performance measurement using the biometric data, wherein the at least one biometric performance measurement is calculated by incrementing the at least one biometric performance measurement, at least in part, each time the biometric data exceeds a threshold,

c) determine at a first time that the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a first biometric performance goal has been met during a first goal achievement window,

d) receive an input signal indicative of a user interaction with the apparatus,

e) display a first goal celebration indicator associated with the first biometric performance goal on the display after c) and responsive to d) when the input signal is received at a second time after the first time,

f) clear the first goal celebration indicator after e), and

g) increase the threshold when the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a substantial portion of the first biometric performance goal has been met.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input signal is produced by an action selected from the group consisting of:

activation of a button of the apparatus, selection of a touch-screen control of the apparatus, detection of biometric data indicative of a wearer of the apparatus bringing their forearm into a watch-viewing position, and detection of biometric data indicative of one or more successive, rapid taps on the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

g) determine at a third time that the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a second biometric performance goal different from the first biometric performance goal has been met during a second goal achievement window,

h) display a second goal celebration indicator associated with the second biometric performance goal on the display after g) and responsive to d) when the second time is after the third time, and

i) clear the second goal celebration indicator after h).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second biometric performance goal includes a plurality of different biometric performance goals and the second biometric performance goal is met by meeting any one of the biometric performance goals in the plurality of different biometric performance goals.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first goal celebration is selected randomly from a pool of available goal celebrations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tactile indicator, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

g) activate the tactile indicator responsive to c) and independently of d).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tactile indicator, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

g) determine whether the apparatus is in a sleep-monitoring mode, and

h) activate the tactile indicator responsive to c) and independently of d) when the at least one processor determines in g) that the apparatus is not in a sleep monitoring mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tactile indicator, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

g) determine that the biometric data during at least a first period of time indicates a first activity state associated with the first biometric performance goal, and

h) activate the tactile indicator independently of d) and when c) occurs during the first period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

g) reset progress towards the first biometric performance goal after the first goal achievement window has elapsed, thereby initiating an additional first goal achievement window subsequent to the first goal achievement window.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:

h) determine that g) has been performed after c) without the performance of e) in between c) and g); and

i) responsive to d) occurring during the additional first goal achievement window, perform e).

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first goal achievement window has a duration that is selected from the group consisting of:

1 hour, 8 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first goal achievement window has a duration that is selected from the group consisting of:

a 24-hour period starting or ending at midnight, a 7-day period starting or ending on a weekend, and a 1 month period starting on the first day of a month.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantial portion of the first biometric performance goal is approximately 90% of the first biometric performance goal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold is increased by more than 10%.

15. A method comprising:

a) receiving, by a controller having one or more processors, biometric data from one or more biometric sensors;

b) calculating, using the controller, at least one biometric performance measurement using the biometric data and by incrementing the at least one biometric performance measurement, at least in part, each time the biometric data exceeds a threshold;

c) determining, by the controller, at a first time that the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a first biometric performance goal has been met during a first goal achievement window;

d) receiving, by the controller, an input signal indicative of a user interaction with an apparatus that includes the controller, the one or more biometric sensors, and a display;

e) causing the controller to display a first goal celebration indicator associated with the first biometric performance goal on the display after c) and responsive to d) when the input signal is received at a second time after the first time;

f) clearing the first goal celebration indicator after e); and

g) increasing the threshold when the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a substantial portion of the first biometric performance goal has been met.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input signal is produced by:

activation of a button of the apparatus, selection of a touch-screen control of the apparatus, detection of biometric data indicative of a wearer of the apparatus bringing their forearm into a watch-viewing position, and detection of biometric data indicative of one or more successive, rapid taps on the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

g) determining at a third time that the at least one biometric performance measurement indicates that a second biometric performance goal different from the first biometric performance goal has been met during a second goal achievement window,

h) displaying a second goal celebration indicator associated with the second biometric performance goal on the display after g) and responsive to d) when the second time is after the third time, and

i) clearing the second goal celebration indicator after h).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second biometric performance goal includes a plurality of different biometric performance goals and the second biometric performance goal is met by meeting any one of the biometric performance goals in the plurality of different biometric performance goals.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first goal celebration is selected randomly from a pool of available goal celebrations.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further includes a tactile indicator, the method further comprising:

g) activating the tactile indicator responsive to c) and independently of d).

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further includes a tactile indicator, the method further comprising:

g) determining whether the apparatus is in a sleep-monitoring mode, and

h) activating the tactile indicator responsive to c) and independently of d) when it is determined in g) that the apparatus is not in a sleep monitoring mode.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further includes a tactile indicator, the method further comprising:

g) determining, by the controller, that the biometric data during at least a first period of time indicates a first activity state associated with the first biometric performance goal, and

h) activating the tactile indicator independently of d) and when c) occurs during the first period of time.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

g) resetting progress towards the first biometric performance goal after the first goal achievement window has elapsed and thereby initiating an additional first goal achievement window subsequent to the first goal achievement window.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

h) determining that g) has been performed after c) without the performance of e) in between c) and g); and

i) responsive to d) occurring during the additional first goal achievement window, performing e).

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first goal achievement window has a duration that is selected from the group consisting of:

1 hour, 8 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the first goal achievement window has a duration that is selected from the group consisting of:

a 24-hour period starting or ending at midnight, a 7-day period starting or ending on a weekend, and a 1 month period starting on the first day of a month.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the substantial portion of the first biometric performance goal is approximately 90% of the first biometric performance goal or higher.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the threshold is increased by more than 10%.