System and method for activating a device based on a record of physical activity

• US 8,924,248 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• 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:
  US12/239,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 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

In a redeemable coupon there is a housing, a motion detector coupled to the housing, wherein the motion detector detects an amount of motion of the coupon, and an indicator coupled to the motion detector, wherein the indicator is activated by the motion detector upon detecting the amount of motion. Additionally, in a method of providing an incentive for a user to exercise, providing the user with a coupon to be coupled to the user, monitoring the motion of the user with a motion sensor included in the coupon, and activating the coupon when the motion sensor has detected a predetermined amount of motion such that the coupon becomes redeemable by the user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a device having one or more motion sensors configured to monitor physical activity based on a motion of the device, the device including circuitry configured to process signals generated by the one or more motion sensors to differentiate between at least two different types of monitored physical activity, the device including a memory for storing respective amounts of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity, the device including a display having at least five light emitting diodes arranged in a substantially straight line, the device including circuitry connected to control illumination of the at least five light emitting diodes in a sequential manner based on an amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity,

wherein the device is configured to;

determine when an amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

control illumination of the at least five light emitting diodes in a sequential manner to indicate that the amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

a band formed to secure to a wrist of a person and hold the device.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal conveying information about the monitored physical activity for processing by an interactive web site.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to monitor the physical activity from a first predetermined point in time until a second predetermined point in time.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold includes a predetermined amount or a predetermined time period.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device further includes one or more removable components adapted to connect with one or more other devices configured to react to the physical activity monitored by the one or more motion sensors.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors include walking, running, and jumping.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to control illumination of the at least five light emitting diodes to display a unique code.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the display having the at least five light emitting diodes arranged in the substantially straight line is a first display, the device further including a second display configured to display an alphanumeric message.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the second display is configured to display an appearance of a health of a virtual live entity based on a level of the monitored physical activity.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be reset so as to clear the memory.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device is associated with an account of a user.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device further includes a microprocessor configured to power the kinetic device on or off based on the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the device includes an alarm to audibly signify that the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least five light emitting diodes are configured to emit light of a single color.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least five light emitting diodes are configured to emit light of multiple colors.

16. A method, comprising:

monitoring, by one or more motion sensors of a device, physical activity based on a motion of the device, the one or more motion sensors generating signals indicative of the monitored physical activity;

processing signals generated by the one or more motion sensors to differentiate between at least two different types of monitored physical activity;

storing respective amounts of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity in a memory of the device;

determining when an amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold;

controlling illumination of the at least five light emitting diodes in a sequential manner to indicate that the amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

17. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

enabling resetting of the device upon determining that the amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein resetting the device includes clearing the memory.

18. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors include walking, running, and jumping.

19. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

controlling illumination of the at least five light emitting diodes to display a unique code.

20. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

displaying an alphanumeric message on a second display of the device in response to the amount of at least one of the at least two different types of monitored physical activity meeting or exceeding the predetermined threshold.

21. The method recited in claim 20, further comprising:

displaying an image or written indicia on the second display to visually signify that the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

22. The method recited in claim 20, further comprising:

displaying one or more encouragement words or messages on the second display while the monitored physical activity remains less than the predetermined threshold.

23. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal from the device, the wireless signal conveying information about the monitored physical activity for processing by an interactive web site.

24. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

operating a microprocessor on the device to power the device on or off based on the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors.

25. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

sounding an alai in to audibly signify that the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

26. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the one or more motion sensors monitor the physical activity associated with a user wearing or holding the device from a first predetermined point in time until a second predetermined point in time.

27. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the predetermined threshold includes a predetermined amount or a predetermined time period.

28. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the device includes one or more removable components adapted to connect with one or more other devices configured to react to the physical activity monitored with the one or more motion sensors.