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

• US 9,421,448 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• 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:
  US14/485,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20150005912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 movement of the user in performing a first type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device and an amount of movement of the user in performing a second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device;

associating the received data with an account of the user;

providing an activity tracking application for installation on an electronic device associated with the account of the user;

operating a server computing device separate from the activity tracking device to perform one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the user in performing the first type of physical activity to generate a first set of instructions to activate the activity tracking application to control a display of the electronic device associated with the account of the user to show one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing the first type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device;

operating the server computing device to perform one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the user in performing the second type of physical activity to generate a second set of instructions to activate the activity tracking application to control the display of the electronic device associated with the account of the user to show one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing the second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device; and

transmitting the first and second sets of instructions over a wireless communication channel from the server computing device to the electronic device associated with the account of the user, the transmitted first and second sets of instructions activating the activity tracking application to cause the electronic device associated with the account of the user to display the one or more images representing the amounts of movement of the user in performing the first and second types of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to the electronic device associated with the account of the user to notify of the transmission of the first and second sets of instructions.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the amounts of the first and second types of physical activity are separately detected and recorded by the activity tracking device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more images are associated with a computer application installed on the electronic device associated with the account of the user.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second sets of instructions convey information that identifies a reward for the user based on the amounts of movement of the user in performing the first and second types of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the reward is associated with progress of the user over time.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing one or more of the first type and second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device is viewable within a website that is accessible via the account of the user.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing one or more of the first type and second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device includes an indication of a bonus, or a reward, or incentive points, or virtual currency, or a prize, or money, or an article, or a special power, or an indicia of a level, or a threshold reached, or a combination of two or more thereof.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity tracking device has a wearable form that can be worn by the user to track the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing one or more of the first type and second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device is defined for presentation on a website.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing one or more of the first type and second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device includes an indication of points accumulated by the user for the amounts of movement of the user in performing the first and second types of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device over a period of time.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a processor configured to receive 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 movement of the user in performing a first type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device and an amount of movement of the user in performing a second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device,

the processor configured to associate the received data with an account of the user,

the processor configured to direct providing of an activity tracking application for installation on an electronic device associated with the account of the user;

the processor performing one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the user in performing the first type of physical activity to generate a first set of instructions to activate the activity tracking application to control a display of the electronic device associated with the account of the user to show one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing the first type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device,

the processor performing one or more actions associated with the amount of movement of the user in performing the second type of physical activity to generate a second set of instructions to activate the activity tracking application to control the display of the electronic device associated with the account of the user to show one or more images representing the amount of movement of the user in performing the second type of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device,

the processor configured to direct transmission of the first and second sets of instructions over a wireless communication channel from the server computing device to the electronic device associated with the account of the user, the transmitted first and second sets of instructions activating the activity tracking application to cause the electronic device associated with the account of the user to display the one or more images representing the amounts of movement of the user in performing the first and second types of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device.

13. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 12, wherein one or both of the first and second sets of instructions convey information that identifies a reward for the user based on the amounts of movement of the user in performing the first and second types of physical activity as recorded by the activity tracking device.

14. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 13, wherein the reward is associated with progress of the user over time.

15. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 12, wherein the activity tracking device has a wearable form that can be worn by the user to track the amount of movement of the activity tracking device.

16. A computer system programmed to communicate with an activity tracking device as recited in claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to direct sending of a message to the electronic device associated with the account of the user to notify of the transmission of the first and second sets of instructions.