Method and system for determining whether steps have occurred

• US 10,030,993 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Connect, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Barfield, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Satanovsky, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cordero, Lina
• Application Number:
  US14/069,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means

Abstract

A filter processes acceleration magnitude signals from an accelerometer device to output spectral content related to walking and running. A device containing the accelerometer determines steps by qualitatively analyzing the processed acceleration signals to determine whether increased acceleration magnitude results from a step impact from running or walking activity. The device may analyze the acceleration signals to determine crossings of an axis at zero magnitude, which crossings typically correspond to a person'"'"'s foot impacting the ground, and may analyze the period between the zero crossings. The step count can indicate whether the device, in a height determination mode, is moving in a vehicle; if analysis of accelerometer signals indicates no stepping or running, but another circuit of the device indicates rapid movement, the device assumes it is moving in a vehicle, and resets a height above ground value to zero upon determining resumption of walking or running activity.

Claims

1. A device for counting steps, comprising:

a processor to;

collect acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor;

determine a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor;

determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed;

determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed;

establish a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency,

the first frequency being an upper cutoff frequency of the filter, and

the second frequency being a lower cutoff frequency of the filter;

apply the filter to the magnitude signal;

determine based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal;

a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device,

a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and

a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device;

receive sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor;

determine, based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred;

determine, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device;

reset, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value;

turn off, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit;

receive sampled acceleration data;

determine magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data;

determine based on the magnitude acceleration information;

a first negative-to-positive acceleration change,

a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and

a second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

compare a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold,

the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change;

compare the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

compare, based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold;

compare, based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold,

the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

compare the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

determine that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold;

turn on the GPS circuit based on determining that the step occurred; and

output a step signal indicating that the step has occurred.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further to:

increment a pre-step count value based on the step signal indicating that the step has occurred; and

add the pre-step count value to a total step count value based on the pre-step count value reaching a predetermined quantity of step counts.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pre-step count value is reset based on the step not occurring within a predetermined amount of time after a previous step indication.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further to:

filter the sampled acceleration data with a band-pass filter to generate filtered magnitude acceleration information; and

wherein the processor, when comparing the first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold, is to;

compare the first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold using values corresponding to the filtered magnitude acceleration information.

5. The device of claim 1, where the magnitude acceleration value is a first magnitude acceleration value;

wherein the processor is further to;

compare a second magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the second half period time value, and a second half period magnitude threshold; and

wherein the processor, when determining that the step has occurred, is to;

determine that the step has occurred based on the second magnitude acceleration value satisfying the second half period magnitude threshold.

6. The device of claim 1, where the magnitude acceleration value is a first magnitude acceleration value;

and

wherein the processor is further to;

compare, based on the second half period time value satisfying the maximum half period time threshold, a second magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to a second half period magnitude acceleration, with a second half period magnitude threshold.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further to:

compare a minimum acceleration value to a magnitude acceleration threshold; and

wherein the processor, when determining that the step has occurred, is to;

determine that the step has occurred based on the minimum acceleration value satisfying the magnitude acceleration threshold.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a pedometer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the acceleration data is associated with one of:

a walking activity of the user, or

a running activity of the user.

10. A method, comprising:

collecting, by a device, acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor;

determining, by the device, a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor;

determining, by the device and based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed;

determining, by the device and based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed;

establishing, by the device, a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency,

the first frequency being an upper cutoff of the filter, and

the second frequency being a lower cutoff of the filter;

applying, by the device, the filter to the magnitude signal;

determining by the device and based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal;

a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device,

a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and

a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device;

receiving, by the device, sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor;

determining, by the device and based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred;

determining, by the device, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit, and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device;

resetting, by the device and based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value;

turning off, by the device and based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit;

receiving, by the device, a sampled acceleration data;

determining, by the device, magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data;

determining, by the device, based on the magnitude acceleration information;

a first negative-to-positive acceleration change,

a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and

a second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

comparing, by the device, a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold,

the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change;

comparing, by the device, the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

comparing, by the device and based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold;

comparing, by the device and based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold,

the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

comparing, by the device, the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

determining, by the device, that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold;

turning on, by the device and based on determining that the step occurred, the GPS circuit; and

outputting, by the device, a step signal indicating that the step has occurred.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

incrementing a pre-step count value based on the step signal indicating that the step has occurred; and

adding the pre-step count value to a total step count value based on the pre-step count value reaching a predetermined quantity of step counts.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

resetting the pre-step count value based on the step not occurring within a predetermined amount of time after an immediately previous step indication.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

filtering the sampled acceleration data with a band-pass filter to generate filtered magnitude acceleration information; and

wherein comparing the first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold comprises;

comparing the first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold using values corresponding to the filtered magnitude acceleration information.

14. The method of claim 10, where the magnitude acceleration value is a first magnitude acceleration value;

wherein the method further comprises;

comparing a second magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the second half period time value, and a second half period magnitude threshold; and

wherein determining that the step has occurred comprises;

determining that the step has occurred based on the second magnitude acceleration value satisfying the second half period magnitude threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, where the magnitude acceleration value is a first magnitude acceleration value;

and

where the method further comprises;

comparing, based on the second half period time value satisfying the maximum half period time threshold, a second magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to a second half period magnitude acceleration, with a second half period magnitude threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, where the second magnitude acceleration value corresponds to a minimum magnitude acceleration value associated with the second half period time value.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

comparing a minimum acceleration value of a second half period to a magnitude acceleration threshold; and

wherein determining that the step has occurred comprises;

determine that the step has occurred based on the minimum acceleration value of the second half period satisfying the magnitude acceleration threshold.

18. The method of claim 10, where the magnitude acceleration value corresponds to a maximum magnitude acceleration value associated with the first half period time value.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to;

collect acceleration data, associated with a user of the device, from an accelerometer sensor;

determine a magnitude signal based on the acceleration data collected from the accelerometer sensor;

determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a first frequency of a first amplitude associated with a fastest stepping speed;

determine, based on determining the magnitude signal, a second frequency of a second amplitude associated with a slowest stepping speed;

establish a filter using the first frequency and the second frequency,

the first frequency being an upper cutoff frequency of the filter, and

the second frequency being a lower cutoff frequency of the filter;

apply the filter to the magnitude signal;

determine based on applying the filter to the magnitude signal;

a minimum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device,

a first half period magnitude threshold associated with the user of the device, and

a maximum half period time threshold associated with the user of the device;

receive sampled pressure data from a pressure sensor;

determine, based on the sampled pressure data, that a change in height above ground by the device has occurred;

determine, via a (Global Positioning System) GPS circuit and based on determining the change in height above ground by the device, a speed value associated with the device;

reset, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, a height above ground value;

turn off, based on the speed value satisfying a speed threshold, the GPS circuit;

receive sampled acceleration data;

determine magnitude acceleration information based on the sampled acceleration data;

determine based on the magnitude acceleration information;

a first negative-to-positive acceleration change,

a positive-to-negative acceleration change succeeding the first negative-to-positive acceleration change, and

a second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

compare a first half period time value and the minimum half period time threshold,

the first half period time value corresponding to a first amount of time between the first negative-to-positive acceleration change and the positive-to-negative acceleration change;

compare the first half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

compare, based on the first half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold, a magnitude acceleration value, corresponding to the first half period time value, and the first half period magnitude threshold;

compare, based on the magnitude acceleration value satisfying the first half period magnitude threshold, a second half period time value to the minimum half period time threshold,

the second half period time value corresponding to a second amount of time between the positive-to-negative acceleration change and the second negative-to-positive acceleration change;

compare the second half period time value and the maximum half period time threshold;

determine that a step has occurred based on the second half period time value satisfying the minimum half period time threshold and the maximum half period time threshold;

turn on the GPS circuit based on determining that the step has occurred; and

output a step signal indicating that the step has occurred.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

increment a pre-step count value based on the step signal indicating that the step has occurred; and

add the pre-step count value to a total step count value based on the pre-step count value reaching a predetermined quantity of step counts.