Fitness monitoring device with altimeter and airplane mode

• US 8,965,730 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/297,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702150-155, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• 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 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/00 Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter spectrophotometry G01J3/00; specially adapted for radiation pyrometry G01J5/00 ; exposure meters built in cameras G03B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/008 using piezoelectric devices piezoelectric resonators G01L9/0022; surface acoustic waves G01L9/0025
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/00 Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
• 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: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 : using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing altimeters in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve recalibrating a biometric monitoring device altimeter based on location data; using altimeter data as an aid to gesture recognition; and/or using altimeter data to manage an airplane mode of a biometric monitoring device.

Claims

1. A wearable biometric tracking device, the wearable biometric tracking device comprising:

one or more biometric sensors;

an altitude sensor, the altitude sensor configured to detect altitude of the wearable biometric tracking device and to output altitude sensor data; and

control logic, wherein the one or more biometric sensors, the altitude sensor, and the control logic are communicatively coupled and the control logic is configured to;

a) receive the altitude sensor data,

b) analyze the altitude sensor data to determine if the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight in an airplane, and

c) place, responsive at least in part to a determination in (b) that the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight in an airplane, the wearable biometric tracking device into a mode associated with air travel.

2. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight in an airplane when the altitude sensor data indicates a rate of altitude change that exceeds a rate of altitude change threshold.

3. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 2, wherein the rate of altitude change threshold is above 30 feet per minute.

4. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein:

the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight in an airplane when the altitude sensor data indicates a total altitude increase over an altitude increase time period for the wearable biometric tracking device, and

the total altitude increase over the altitude increase time period exceeds a total altitude increase threshold.

5. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 4, wherein the total altitude increase threshold is at least 130 feet in altitude and the altitude increase time period is 180 seconds or less.

6. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight in an airplane when:

the altitude sensor data indicates a rate of altitude change that exceeds an altitude rate of change threshold throughout an altitude change time period, and

the rate of altitude change threshold is at least 30 feet per minute.

7. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 6, wherein the altitude change time period is a time period of at least 13 seconds.

8. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the mode associated with air travel is a mode in which the wearable biometric tracking device is placed in a low power state.

9. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising wireless communication circuitry, the communication circuitry communicatively coupled to the control logic and configured to wirelessly communicate with associated devices, wherein the mode associated with air travel is a mode in which the communication circuitry is placed in a standby or off state.

10. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) further analyze the altitude sensor data to determine if the altitude sensor data is indicative of landing of the airplane, and

e) cause, responsive at least in part to a determination in (d) that the altitude sensor data is indicative of landing of the airplane, the wearable biometric tracking device to exit the mode associated with air travel.

11. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 10, wherein the altitude sensor data is indicative of the landing of the airplane when:

f) the altitude sensor data indicates a total altitude decrease for the wearable biometric tracking device that exceeds a total altitude decrease threshold over an altitude decrease time period; and

g) the altitude sensor data indicates a rate of altitude change of less than 3 feet per minute for a period of 300 seconds after (f).

12. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 11, wherein the altitude decrease time period is 180 seconds or less.

13. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 11, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

h) receive biometric data from the one or more biometric sensors;

i) analyze the biometric data to determine if the biometric data indicates that a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device has taken at least a predetermined number of steps; and

j) determine that the altitude sensor data is indicative of the landing of the airplane when the control logic further detects (i) after (f).

14. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 11, wherein the total altitude decrease threshold is an altitude decrease of at least 130 feet.

15. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to monitor biometric data from the one or more biometric sensors and to determine when the biometric data indicates that a wearer of the biometric monitoring device has not moved more than a threshold movement amount relative to an aircraft reference frame within a first time period after (b).

16. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 15, further comprising a user interface, wherein the control logic is further configured to cause a notification to be provided to the wearer via the user interface responsive, at least in part, to the determination that the wearer of the biometric monitoring device has not moved more than the threshold movement amount relative to the aircraft reference frame within the first time period.

17. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, further comprising a light sensor configured to measure an amount of ambient light around the biometric tracking device and to output detected light data, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

analyze the detected light data to determine if the detected light data is indicative of light levels normally associated with a sleeping environment in an airplane, and

cause the notification to be provided to the wearer via the user interface responsive to the determination that the wearer of the biometric monitoring device has not moved more than the threshold movement amount relative to the aircraft reference frame within the first time period and responsive to a determination that the detected light data is not indicative of the light levels normally associated with the sleeping environment in an airplane.

18. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

place the wearable biometric tracking device into a sleep-tracking mode responsive to a stimulus selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a deliberate request provided by the wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device and (ii) analysis of the biometric data indicating that the wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is likely asleep;

cause the notification to be provided to the wearer via the user interface when the wearable biometric tracking device is not in the sleep-tracking mode and responsive to the determination that the wearer of the biometric monitoring device has not moved more than the threshold movement amount relative to the aircraft reference frame within the first time period.

19. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a digital display and the notification is a message displayed on the digital display.

20. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes an audio device and the notification is an audio notification.

21. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a haptic feedback mechanism and the notification is a tactile notification.

22. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising an audio sensor configured to output audio data, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

receive the audio data; and

analyze the audio data to determine whether the audio data indicates background noise consistent with engine noise of an aircraft, wherein the control logic is further configured to place the wearable biometric monitoring device into the mode associated with air travel responsive, at least in part, to the determination in (b) that the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight of the airplane and to the determination that the audio data indicates background noise consistent with the engine noise of the aircraft.

23. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor configured to detect acceleration and output acceleration data, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

receive the acceleration data; and

analyze the acceleration data to determine whether the acceleration data indicates vibration consistent with vibration from an aircraft engine, wherein the control logic is further configured to place the wearable biometric monitoring device into the mode associated with air travel responsive, at least in part, to the determination in (b) that the altitude data is indicative of flight of the airplane and to the determination that the acceleration data indicates vibration consistent with the vibration of the aircraft engine.

24. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a communications interface configured to receive communications data, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

receive the communications data; and

analyze the communications data to determine whether the communications data indicates communications consistent with communications from an airplane communications device, wherein the control logic is further configured to place the wearable biometric monitoring device into the mode associated with air travel responsive, at least in part, to the determination in (b) that the altitude sensor data is indicative of flight of the airplane and also to the determination that the communications data indicates communications consistent with the communications from the airplane communications device.

25. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

provide a stair-climbing mode that tracks a number of flights of stairs climbed by a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device, and

turn off the stair-climbing mode responsive to (c).

26. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications interface, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

receive a first input signal via the wireless communications interface, and

cause, responsive to the receipt of the first input signal, the wearable biometric tracking device to enter into the mode associated with air travel.

27. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 26, wherein the control logic is further configured to cause the wearable biometric tracking device to exit the mode associated with air travel upon receipt of a second input signal, wherein the second input signal is indicative of activity selected from the group consisting of:

an associated external device powering on, tapping the wearable biometric tracking device, selection of a menu option through a user interface of the wearable biometric tracking device, and pressing of a button of the wearable biometric monitoring device.

28. A system comprising:

a wearable biometric tracking device comprising;

one or more biometric sensors,

a biometric tracking device communications interface, and

biometric tracking device control logic, wherein the one or more biometric sensors, the biometric tracking device communications interface, and the biometric tracking device control logic are communicatively coupled and the biometric tracking device control logic is configured to;

a) receive a signal associated with an airplane mode;

b) responsive to (a), place the wearable biometric tracking device into a mode associated with air travel; and

a mobile communications device separate from the wearable biometric tracking device, the mobile communications device comprising;

a mobile communications device communications interface, and

mobile communications device control logic, wherein the mobile communications device communications interface and the mobile communications device control logic are communicatively coupled and the mobile communications device control logic is configured to;

transmit the signal associated with the airplane mode via the mobile communications device communications interface.