Methods for detecting and recording activity and devices for performing the same

• US 8,849,697 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tropper, Seth A., Batour, Amado
• Primary Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US14/165,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/14.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• 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: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 : Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 : Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 : involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 : based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 : Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 : Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 : for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Data is received from an activity tracking device. The received data indicates an amount of movement of the activity tracking device. The received data is associated with an account of a user of the activity tracking device. Feedback is generated for the user based on the amount of movement of the activity tracking device as indicated by the received data. The feedback is presented on a website with an indication of points accumulated by the user for the amount of movement of the activity tracking device over time.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data from an activity tracking device, the received data having been recorded by the activity tracking device when the activity tracking device was secured to a user, the received data indicating an amount of a first type of physical activity performed by the user and an amount of a second type of physical activity performed by the user, the amounts of the first and second types of physical activity separately detected and recorded by the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with the user of the activity tracking device;

generating a first instruction for a computer game based on the amount of the first type of physical activity performed by the user as indicated by the received data, the first instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions associated with the first type of physical activity over time based on the amount of the first type of physical activity performed by the user as indicated by the received data;

generating a second instruction for the computer game based on the amount of the second type of physical activity performed by the user as indicated by the received data, the second instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions associated with the second type of physical activity over time based on the amount of the second type of physical activity performed by the user as indicated by the received data; and

providing the first and second instructions to the computer game, the method being executed by a processor of a computer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second instructions directs the computer game to issue a reward to the user.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the reward is defined as points for use within the computer game.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of the user within the computer game.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of an entity associated with the user within the computer game.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the reward is defined as an activation of features within the computer game.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of the first type of physical activity performed by the user reaches or exceeds a threshold level of the first type of physical activity.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the data received from the activity tracking device includes an indication that the amount of the first type of physical activity performed by the user has reached or exceeded the threshold level of the first type of physical activity.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the second instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of the second type of physical activity performed by the user reaches or exceeds a threshold level of the second type of physical activity.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the data received from the activity tracking device includes an indication that the amount of the second type of physical activity performed by the user has reached or exceeded the threshold level of the second type of physical activity.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer game is executed within a website.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving data from an activity tracking device, the received data having been recorded by the activity tracking device when the activity tracking device was secured to a user, the received data indicating an amount of walking performed by the user and an amount of running performed by the user and an amount of jumping performed by the user, the amounts of walking, running, and jumping separately detected and recorded by the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with the user of the activity tracking device;

generating a first instruction for a computer game based on the amount of walking performed by the user as indicated by the received data, the first instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions associated with walking over time based on the amount of the walking performed by the user as indicated by the received data;

generating a second instruction for the computer game based on the amount of running performed by the user as indicated by the received data, the second instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions associated with running over time based on the amount of the running performed by the user as indicated by the received data;

generating a third instruction for the computer game based on the amount of jumping performed by the user as indicated by the received data, the third instruction causing the computer game to perform one or more actions associated with jumping over time based on the amount of the jumping performed by the user as indicated by the received data; and

providing the first, second, and third instructions to the computer game, the method being executed by a processor of a computer.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third instructions directs the computer game to issue a reward to the user.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the reward is defined as points for use within the computer game.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of the user within the computer game.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the reward is defined as an advancement of a status of an entity associated with the user within the computer game.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the reward is defined as an activation of features within the computer game.

18. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer game is executed within a website.

19. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of walking performed by the user reaches or exceeds a threshold level of walking.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data received from the activity tracking device includes an indication that the amount of walking performed by the user has reached or exceeded the threshold level of walking.

21. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the second instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of running performed by the user reaches or exceeds a threshold level of running.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the data received from the activity tracking device includes an indication that the amount of running performed by the user has reached or exceeded the threshold level of running.

23. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the third instruction for the computer game is generated when the amount of jumping performed by the user reaches or exceeds a threshold level of jumping.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the data received from the activity tracking device includes an indication that the amount of jumping performed by the user has reached or exceeded the threshold level of jumping.